Miles M.7 Nighthawk
Miles Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1935 · light aircraft
The Miles M.7 Nighthawk was a 1930s British training and communications monoplane designed by Miles Aircraft Limited.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.62 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing monoplane developed from the Miles Falcon Six
- Single de Havilland Gipsy Six inline engine
- Used for training and communications
A low-wing monoplane powered by a single de Havilland Gipsy Six inline engine, developed from the Miles Falcon Six.
Specifications
- The Miles M.7 Nighthawk has a length of 7.62 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 282 km/h (175 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from the Miles Falcon Six. The prototype, G-ADXA, first flew on 18 December 1935 as a low-wing monoplane with a 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six piston engine, and crashed during spinning trials at Woodley in January 1937. Four production aircraft followed.
Variants
The M.7 was the production version with the 200 hp Gipsy Six (two built), and the M.7A a four-seat variant for the Romanian Government (two built). A hybrid M.7A combined a Nighthawk fuselage with Mohawk wings and a 205 hp Gipsy Six Series II (one built). The design was also modified to meet an Air Ministry specification as the M.16 Mentor.
Where you'll see it
Two aircraft were delivered to the Royal Romanian Air Force in 1936 and one to the RAF in May 1937, where it was a VIP transport with No. 24 Squadron. The last airworthy Nighthawk, G-AGWT, was raced in postwar UK air competitions into the early 1960s.
Related aircraft
- Miles M.2 Hawk Trainer
- Miles M.4A Merlin
- Miles M.5 Sparrowhawk
- Miles M.6 Hawcon
- Adaro 1.E.7 Chirta
- Ambrosini SAI.1
- American Gyro AG-4 Crusader
- Arup S-4
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