Miles Hawk Speed Six

Miles Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · light aircraft

The Miles Hawk Speed Six was a 1930s British light monoplane racer developed by Miles Aircraft from the Miles Hawk Major. It had the longer and more powerful Gipsy Six engine and no forward crew member.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.32 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Low-wing cantilever monoplane developed from the Miles Hawk Major
Single-seat racer with the front cockpit removed and the rear cockpit repositioned to retain balance
Longer six-cylinder de Havilland Gipsy Six engine of 200 hp

To make room for the longer six-cylinder engine the front cockpit was removed, making it a single-seater. G-ADGP had its wing span reduced for the 1939 King's Cup and later gained a modified canopy.

Specifications

The Miles Hawk Speed Six has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.06 m (33 ft).
Its maximum speed is 298 km/h (185 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

The prototype, the M.2E G-ACTE, was first flown in 1934, the same year as the Hawk Major. Three examples were built, each tailored to its specific requirements.

Variants

The M.2L G-ADGP had greater dihedral and split trailing-edge flaps and was built for Luis Fontés. The M.2U G-ADOD had a 220 hp Gipsy Six R racing engine and was built for Ruth Fontés.

Where you'll see it

The three aircraft had a significant impact on British air racing. G-ADOD, flown by A. E. Clouston, was destroyed in a crash-landing during the Schlesinger Race to Johannesburg in 1936, while G-ADGP is airworthy with the Shuttleworth Collection.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.