Miles M.38 Messenger

Miles Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · light aircraft

The Miles M.38 Messenger was a British high-wing liaison monoplane designed for Army Co-operation duties, featuring triple tail fins and excellent short-field performance. It served both military and civil roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.32 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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British high-wing liaison monoplane with triple tail fins
Designed for short-field STOL performance
Served British Army and postwar civil owners

Distinctive high-wing monoplane with three tail fins, a broad tapered wing with slots, and side-by-side cockpit seating — the triple fin is the key identifying feature.

Specifications

The Miles M.38 Messenger has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.02 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
Typical crew: 1 + 3.

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

History

Designed to meet a wartime Army requirement for a simple liaison aircraft capable of operating from small fields, the Messenger first flew in 1942 and entered limited RAF and British Army service. Postwar it found a ready civilian market and was popular with private owners. Its triple fin arrangement was a Miles trademark on several designs.

Variants

Several marks with different engine fits; the Mk.2 was the main civil version with a de Havilland Gipsy Major engine.

Where you'll see it

Served with the British Army Air Corps and RAF for liaison duties 1943-45, then widely used by civilian owners in the UK through the late 1950s.

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