Miles Martinet

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Miles Martinet target-towing monoplane

The Miles M.25 Martinet was a target tug aircraft of the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm that was in service during World War II. It was the first British aircraft to be designed specifically for the role of towing targets. Based upon the Miles Master II, the Martinet featured a strengthened airframe to handle the stresses of towing a target drogue. Other differences from the Master included a longer nose, higher cockpit and greater wing span but otherwise the two aircraft shared many common components. The targets and towing gear were contained in a fairing beneath the fuselage and were retracted by an external, wind-powered winch.

The first prototype of the Martinet was flown on April 24, 1942. In total 1,724 Martinets were produced by Miles Aircraft Ltd for the RAF and FAA to meet Air Ministry Specification 12/41. Production continued until the end of the war.

There were two other variants of the Martinet. The M.50 Queen Martinet was a radio-controlled target drone of which 65 were built and a further 17 produced through conversion of an M.25. The M.37 Martinet Trainer was developed during the war but only two were ever produced.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
• Wingspan: 39 ft (11.89 m)
• Height: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
• Wing area: 238 ft² (22.1 m²)
• Empty: 4,600 lb (2,090 kg)
• Loaded: 6,680 lb (3,030 kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Bristol Mercury 30 radial engine, 820 hp (610 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 237 mph at 15,000 ft (381 km/h at 4,600 m)
• Range: 600 miles (966 km)
• Service ceiling: ft ( m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: 28.1 lb/ft² (137.1 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.235 hp/lb (0.389 kW/kg)

Related content

Comparable aircraft:

Designation series: M.19 - M.20 - M.24 - M.25 - M.27 - M.28 - M.30

See also

• List of aircraft of the RAF

| Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation

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