INDEX OF NAVAL AIRCRAFT

 

   Miles M11A Whitney Straight 
 

History

The Miles M.11A Whitney Straight was a pre-war cabin monoplane built by Miles. The prototype was flown for the first time on 14 May, 1936. An improved version flew on February 21, 1938. In the next two years, 50 aircraft were built. A number of M.11s were impressed into service during World War II, 23 for the RAF, two for India, three for Royal New Zealand Air Force and a single one for the FAA. Total production of the Miles M.11A  was 47.
The single Miles M.11A Whitney Straight in the Fleet Air Arm was impressed in October 1940 to 804 squadron at Skeabrae/Skitten and Yeovilton. Then it was sent to 787 squadron fighter school at Yeovilton, thence 792 squadron at St Merryn. It remained at Lee on Solent until paid off in June 1943.
Fleet Air Arm history
Miles M.11A Whitney Straight
Total FAA 1939-1945:             1
First delivered to RN:               1940
First squadron 1939 -1945:        804 sqdn
Last served with RN                 1943
Aircraft Type:
 Miles M11A Whitney Straight
Mark:
 M.11A
Primary Role:
 trainer
First Flight: 
 14 May, 1936.
Date operating with FAA squadrons:
 1940-1943
Manufacturer:
 Miles
Engine:
 One 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine
 Wing Span: Length: Height: Wing Area: 
 Span: 35ft 8" 
Length: 25ft 0" 
Height: 6ft 6" 
Wing Area: 178 sq. ft.
Empty Weight: Max.Weight:
 Empty Weight: 1,250 lbs 
Full wt 2,000 lbs
Speed: 

Ceiling: 

Range:

 Max. Speed:145 mph 
Cruise Speed: 130 mph 
Initial Climb: 850 fpm 
Ceiling: 18,500 ft 
Range: 570 miles
Armament: 
 None
Crew:
 2
Squadrons:
 787,792,804
Battle honours:
 None with FAA
Additional references and notes:
 -

Battle Honours and Operational History
None with FAA

Surviving aircraft and relics
There is believed to be a total of 4 airframes left in the world. (Airframes Believed To Be Still In Existance), G-AFGK Wetaskiwin, Alberta in 1990 (Canada), G-AFJX BD183 at Christchurch in 1990s (New Zealand), G-AERV EM999  at Antrim (Northern Ireland) in 1996 and G-AEUJ Sutton Coldfield (England) in 1996.
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M.11A Whitney Straight 509 G-AFGK Rebuild Wetaskiwin, Alberta Canada 1990
Associations and reunions
No Information
FURTHER INFORMATION
  
Whitney straight in Miles Aircraft Production website Miles Aircraft Production A Summary of Miles Aircraft and their Histories. Includes Aeroplane Specifications Individual Airframe Histories and Pictures 
 Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995)  'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to1945'  Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 0 85130 232 7 
Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000
 

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