Miles Martinet

M.25 Martinet

Role: Target tug
Manufacturer: Miles Aircraft
First flight: 24 April 1942
Primary users: Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm
Produced: 1942-1945
Number built: 1,724

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.

Design and development

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.

Variants

M.25 Martinet: Two-seat target tug aircraft. The M.25 Martinet was used by both the RAF and the Royal Navy, under the designation Martinet TT.Mk I.
M.50 Queen Martinet: Unmanned radio-controlled target drone.
M.37 Martinet Trainer: Two-seat training aircraft. Only two were built.

Operators

Belgium

Belgian Air Force (11 operated from 1947 to 1953 as target tugs)

Ireland

Irish Air Corps

Portugal

Portuguese Air Force

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

No. 5 Squadron RAF
No. 20 Squadron RAF
No. 34 Squadron RAF
No. 269 Squadron RAF
No. 285 Squadron RAF
No. 286 Squadron RAF
No. 287 Squadron RAF
No. 289 Squadron RAF
No. 290 Squadron RAF
No. 291 Squadron RAF
No. 520 Squadron RAF

No. 567 Squadron RAF
No. 577 Squadron RAF
No. 587 Squadron RAF
No. 595 Squadron RAF
No. 598 Squadron RAF
No. 631 Squadron RAF
No. 639 Squadron RAF
No. 650 Squadron RAF
No. 679 Squadron RAF
No. 691 Squadron RAF
No. 695 Squadron RAF

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm

Specifications (M.25)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft (11.89 m)
Height: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
Wing area: 242 ft² (22.48 m²)
Empty weight: 4,600 lb (2,090 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,680 lb (3,030 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 6,750 lb (3,062 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Bristol Mercury 20 or 30 radial engine, 870 hp (649 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 240 mph at 15,000 ft (386 km/h at 4,600 m)
Cruise speed: 199 mph at 5,000 ft (320 km/h at 1,525 m)
Range: 694 miles (1,117 km)
Wing loading: 28.1 lb/ft² (137.1 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.235 hp/lb (0.389 kW/kg)

Related development

M.9
M.19
M.24
M.27

Bibliography

Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0.
Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-37000-127-3.
Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.

Miles Martinet Pictures and Miles Martinet for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia