Miles Aerovan

Miles Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1945 · transport aircraft

The Miles Aerovan was a British light freighter and passenger transport of 1945, featuring a twin-boom pod layout with a large nose door for vehicle or cargo loading, designed for regional freight and feeder services.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.97 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Spot it by:

Bulbous high-wing twin-boom freighter with twin tails
Large clamshell nose door for vehicle loading
Distinctive pod-and-boom layout with high-set wing

Unique twin-boom pod-and-boom layout with a very wide fuselage pod, high-set straight wing, and twin tail fins; the clamshell nose and chubby proportions are instantly recognisable.

Specifications

The Miles Aerovan has a length of 10.97 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15.24 m (50 ft).
Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Miles Aircraft developed the Aerovan to meet postwar demand for cheap freight transport; the pod-and-twin-boom configuration allowed a spacious cargo hold with easy front-loading access. It entered service in 1946 and was used by several small operators.

Variants

The Aerovan 4 was the main production variant; the Aerovan 6 was a stretched version with greater capacity.

Where you'll see it

The Aerovan served with several UK and overseas operators in the late 1940s and early 1950s on freight and charter work; the type was rendered obsolete by more capable transports by the mid-1950s.

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