Miles Magister
Miles Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1937 · light aircraft
The Miles Magister was a two-seat monoplane primary trainer that became the RAF's standard elementary training aircraft during World War II. Its modern monoplane configuration prepared student pilots for the Hurricane and Spitfire.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.51 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- RAF's first monoplane ab-initio trainer
- Open tandem cockpits on low-wing monoplane
- Clean lines with fixed undercarriage and rounded wingtips
A neat low-wing monoplane with tandem open cockpits, tapered wings, and a simple fixed undercarriage — visually an accessible step toward the wartime fighters its students would go on to fly.
Specifications
- The Miles Magister has a length of 7.51 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.29 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 225 km/h (140 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering RAF service in 1937, the Magister was the first monoplane trainer accepted by the RAF, replacing biplane types and giving thousands of wartime aircrew their introduction to monoplane flying. Over 1,200 were built, and the type served with Commonwealth air forces around the world.
Variants
Produced as a single main variant with minor equipment changes; the civil version was marketed as the Miles Hawk Trainer.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF and Commonwealth air forces across Britain, the Middle East, and elsewhere; the type was also flown by Egypt, Turkey, and New Zealand.
Related aircraft
- Miles Master
- Miles Mentor
- Miles Falcon
- Miles M.20
- Abrams P-1 Explorer
- Aeronca Chief
- Aeronca LB
- Airspeed Oxford
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