Vintage plane.

[Farmer John]

Attempting to scan some slides has led me to look through some of the hundreds of things left from when my father died. This photo has me puzzled, it looks very streamlined, but I have no idea what it is. Anyone any ideas?

[jg grant]

Miles something? Now an obsolete company? Though it has the nose of a DH Tigermoth.

[Farmer John]

Originally Posted by jg grant

Though it has the nose of a DH Tigermoth.

That is a start. I think the Press are there. Also, background left, 2 biplanes.

[Wismajorvik]

Possibly one of the Miles Hawk Major single seat racing versions?

[Farmer John]

I think you have it.

http://www.airteamimages.com/miles-h...te_104624.html

You can just about make out the logo on my photo. Great stuff.

[jg grant]

Miles Magister?

[Farmer John]

Originally Posted by jg grant

Miles Magister?

No, I think we have it with the Hawk. The barely visible logo tells a lot, and the fairing on the undercarriage doesn't fit the Magister, I don't think.

[Vikingman]

It's a Miles Sparrowhawk, first flown 1935. Only 6 were built

[Dartskipper]

Definitely a Miles. The M2 Hawk Major was a two seat, open cockpit machine that shared several features. The engine was a De Havilland Gipsy Major 1, which was also used by a number of other manufacturers.

[Malcolm G]

A little research turns up:
The registration of the prototype M2T Hawk Major was G-ADNJ
The registration of the prototype M5 Sparrowhawk was G-ADNL
Extrapolation might bring us to the second M2T built - G-ADNK, which could fit the aircraft in the picture.

The Sparrowhawk was developed from the basic Hawk airframe adapted for racing.
G-ADNJ was later used to build the experimental Miles Sparrowjet in the 1950s.

Would it not therefore be possible that the aircraft shown started life as a two seat trainer, remaining under factory control, and was converted into a a single seat racer?
That would mean that it was both a Hawk Major AND a Sparrowhawk, at different stages in its life.

[Farmer John]

Malcolm, thank you for taking the time with this. Now I know the details of the plane, what colour were the pilot's socks (my guess would be navy blue and woollen). Is there no end to the erudition and width of knowledge on here?

[Malcolm G]

Nope, can't find any data on his socks - but his underwear was probably reinforced

[Kelpie.]

Not sure if this is of any help but that photo has been taken at Newtownards Airfield in Northern Ireland, that is Scrabo Tower on the hill behind.,
Crawford.

[Farmer John]

It is very interesting, thank you. Dad was born in N Ireland in 1919, but left with his parents when he was very young. The photo must have come from part of the family who didn't leave.

[Kelpie.]

I wonder if Rex Mc Candless had anything to do with this, he was a great inventor, engineer and aviation fan. Worth a look at his life if only for the things he did. I remember him flying his autogyro at Ards airfield, there is a film from the Tomorrows World series in the search engines of the airfield and him flying it.
Crawford.