A Forum for those interest in vintage NON-military aircraft
Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:27 pm
It's certainly not a pretty looking thing in the flesh, and really has no place in the RAF Museum's Milestones of Flight gallery anyway!
Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:20 am
Mike wrote:It's certainly not a pretty looking thing in the flesh, and really has no place in the RAF Museum's Milestones of Flight gallery anyway!
Couldn't disagree more. Its one of the few Miles aircraft still in existence and was a gorgeous design for its time. Lindbergh used it extensively around pre-war England, Germany, Russia, etc., and the aircraft spent a majority of its time on British RAF bases. I think its is very appropriate that it now resides at the RAF Museum's Milestones of Flight Gallery...
Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:34 pm
It's not particularly significant to the history of the RAF, as, although impressed into RAF service, it was hardly used due to issues with the rare Menasco engine fitted. Lindbergh is no more than a peripheral figure at best in British aviation history. As I say, it has no place in the RAF Museum collection, the sooner they exchange it for something more relevant the better as far as I'm concerned.
Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:19 pm
Well, we all have our opinions. The RAF Museum was thrilled to get it so I don't see them "exchanging it". I posted the links because I thought people who had an interest in the airframe would find it satisfying that it had been restored and put on display. It was a sharp design and I'm glad it survives...
Mon Nov 28, 2011 12:33 am
It wouldn't surprise me to see them exchange it at some point, if something more (or even slightly!) relevant to the RAF comes along. The Mohawk was acquired and restored under the old regime, at one point it was intended that the previous director of the Museum would have use of it to fly!
You might be surprised at some of the exchanges that have happened (and are planned for the future) at the RAF Museum.
Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:31 am
Mike's not a big fan of Mr. L anyway, but I have to agree that I don't see what relevance the Mohawk has to the RAF. Don't really see the relevance of the Mew Gull either......
Both magnificent machines in their day of course, with neat stories, but RAF connection?
They need a Snipe, or any number of other significant types, or even adversary types
-
Mon Nov 28, 2011 12:00 pm
Connie should have brought it rather than pictures home with him.
Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:08 pm
Baldeagle wrote:Mike's not a big fan of Mr. L anyway
Yeah, I picked up on that...
Beyond all that, beyond the "It doesn't belong in an RAF Museum" thing, does anyone but me think this is a nice restoration of a beautiful airplane? Yikes...
Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:13 am
I like it too! You are not the only one. If they and Mike don't want it, I am sure it will go to a museum or entity that does.
Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:34 pm
Mike wrote:It's certainly not a pretty looking thing in the flesh, and really has no place in the RAF Museum's Milestones of Flight gallery anyway!
Just going out on a limb here but I'm guessing the Spirit of St. Louis was already spoken for. I don't know if this airplane was famously known and instantly recognizable around Europe at the time as Lindbergh's but it's not the worst airplane the Milestones of Flight gallery could have put on display.
-Tim
Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:03 pm
Anything that Charles Lindbergh owned or flew is significant and historical and the Mowhawk is no exception. Even if it had no connection to Lindbergh, its a beautiful aircraft and a rare example of the Miles design team...
Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:03 am
Pretty airplane, I like it. Menasco, Miles, Lindbergh, it's got it all. Good display for a museum.
I think the guy that got to sit in the Comet doesn't like it, though.
Chris...
Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:15 am
Any idea why this particular Miles had to have a Menasco? Seems to me like a Gypsy would have been a lot easier to get serviced in Europe in the 1930's.
-Tim
Thu Dec 01, 2011 4:58 pm
It was fitted with a Menasco because Lindbergh ordered it that way (the aircraft was a one-off). They seemed to spend most of the 350 hours or so that he flew it around Europe before the war swapping between the 2 available engines that they had in order to keep the thing running, and the RAF only flew it a handful of hours during WWII for the same reason.
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