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Post by baz62 on Jan 24, 2014 16:30:49 GMT 12
I was just looking up the Miles M.20 fighter, which was supposedly faster than the Hawker Hurricane, and had double the range of the Spitfire, and was built from wood, like the Mosquito. You can actually see lineage between the Hawk and the M.20 I reckon. Yes I think it's a real shame the Ministry didn't produce some of these aircraft types Miles came up with. It's almost someone didn't want him to succeed? The MB5 was one awesome looking fighter! EDIT oops wrong company..but I still like the MB5
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2014 19:38:59 GMT 12
I think the Miles chief designer was a her, wasn't it? I heard that somewhere....
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paparoa
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by paparoa on Jan 25, 2014 8:33:39 GMT 12
Hi Dave. I have just joined your excellent site. Having a bit of a problem finding out how to create a new post, so I have joined this thread. I saw in The Christchurch Press today that Flt-Lieutenant Owen Christopher Johnstone, RNVR, FAA, has died in Timaru at the age of 95. I wondered if anyone knew him, or knew of him? My Dad was a CPO YeoSigs on HMS Illustrious 1941-45 and served with the NZ FAA men aboard her. My book on all this (The Lost Pilot: a memoir, published by Penguin) came out last year. Cheers. Jeffrey.
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airshowconsultants
Pilot Officer
Working on The People's Mosquito project.......
Posts: 52
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Post by airshowconsultants on Jan 25, 2014 12:54:00 GMT 12
I was just looking up the Miles M.20 fighter, which was supposedly faster than the Hawker Hurricane, and had double the range of the Spitfire, and was built from wood, like the Mosquito. You can actually see lineage between the Hawk and the M.20 I reckon. The Miles M.20 went from drawing board to first flight in 9 WEEKS! It had around 1,000 rounds per gun for its 8 Brownings, a clear-view 'bubble canopy', and a range of about 925 miles. It was about 40 mph slower than the Spitfire I (at around 333 mph) and was apparently quite manoeuverable. The Merlin 'power egg' came from the same design as the Beaufighter II. At one time a retractable u/c version was planned for the FAA, but dropped. I STILL think that Miles should have been allowed to proceed with this aircraft. Developed versions would have been quite viable.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 26, 2014 12:15:18 GMT 12
Hi Dave. I have just joined your excellent site. Having a bit of a problem finding out how to create a new post, so I have joined this thread. I saw in The Christchurch Press today that Flt-Lieutenant Owen Christopher Johnstone, RNVR, FAA, has died in Timaru at the age of 95. I wondered if anyone knew him, or knew of him? My Dad was a CPO YeoSigs on HMS Illustrious 1941-45 and served with the NZ FAA men aboard her. My book on all this (The Lost Pilot: a memoir, published by Penguin) came out last year. Cheers. Jeffrey. Jeffrey, Johnstone was enlisted by the RN in New Zealand and sailed with others for the UK for pilot training with the Fleet Air Arm there on 18 January 1941. By August 1943 he was flying Fairey Swordfish aircraft off MAC ships (Merchant Aircraft Carriers)in the North Atlantic. I don't know if he also served in the Pacific, however. Errol
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paparoa
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by paparoa on Jan 27, 2014 7:37:08 GMT 12
Hi Errol Thank you very much for this information. He could have told some amazing stories, flying Stringbags off those smaller carriers. My faher went up for a joyride in one, he told me. Cheers Jeffrey
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 27, 2014 18:03:53 GMT 12
Sadly I did not know about Owen Johnstone, and nor it seems must the Fleet Air Arm of New Zealand known about him because they were under the impression that Ralph Cocklyn, who passed away in 2013, was the last MAC Ship pilot. Ralph had amazing stories of his days on Swordfish, and I wish I'd got to meet Owen too.
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