Aircraft

A selection of pictures of aircraft seen at Croydon throughout it's history

Miles (Phillips & Powis Aircraft Ltd)

The original company was founded by Charles Powis and Jack Phillips as Phillips & Powis Aircraft after meeting Fred Miles. The company was based on Woodley Aerodrome in Woodley, near the town of Reading and in the county of Berkshire. In 1936, Rolls-Royce bought into the company and although aircraft were produced under the Miles name, it was not until 1943 that the firm became Miles Aircraft Limited when Rolls-Royce's interests were bought out. The company needed to increase production of the Miles Messenger and in doing so they took over a former Linen Mill in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland for the production of components of the aircraft. A hangar at RAF Long Kesh was used for assembly of the aircraft and flight testing was carried out at the airfield. The company moved to Newtownards following the end of the war in 1946. The company opened the Miles Aeronautical Technical School in 1943 under the directorship of Maxine (Blossom) Miles. The school had a "Headmaster", Walter Evans In 1947, the company entered receivership following bankruptcy proceedings instigated by Titanine Ltd The aviation assets were purchased by Handley Page as Handley Page Reading Ltd. Handley Page produced the Miles-designed M.60 Marathon as the H.P.R.1 Marathon. The Miles Aeronautical Technical School was taken over by the Reading Technical College In 1948, Frederick Miles founded F. G. Miles Limited, which continued to produce aircraft under the Miles name. The company was based on two sites, Redhill Aerodrome and Shoreham Aerodrome. In 1961, the aviation interests were merged with Auster Aircraft Limited into British Executive and General Aviation Limited (Beagle Aircraft), initially as Beagle-Miles Ltd. with George Miles as Chief Designer and Technical Director. The company adopted a group structure with subsidiary companies as follows:- Meridian Airmaps Ltd (whose collection of aerial photographs forms part of the English Heritage Archive,), Miles Development Products Ltd., Miles Electronics Ltd., Miles Marine & Structural Plastics Ltd. and Jet Tanks Ltd.. The group was initially based at Redhill, but moved to Shoreham in 1953, and Marketad Ltd. Miles Electronics was involved in the manufacture of flight simulators, this division merged with the UK arm of the Link Trainer flight simulator company and was later acquired by the Singer Corporation. In 1975 Hunting Associated Industries acquired a controlling interest in F. G. Miles Engineering and all its subsidiaries. The company was renamed Hunting Hivolt and Jeremy Miles, the son of Fred Miles (who founded the firm), became a non-executive director on the board. Other companies included:- Miles HiVolt Ltd. and Miles-Dufon Ltd. (this company went into administration on the 15th of April 1980). Design work between F. G. Miles Ltd., and the French company, Hurel-Dubois, resulted in the HDM.105, basically, a standard Miles Aerovan fitted with an Hurel-Dubois high-aspect-ratio wing. This work led to the Hurel-Dubois HD.34 and the Short Brothers Skyvan series of aircraft.

Miles Aerovan

(above) Miles Aerovan at Croydon in the snow in December 1946.

A typical busy scene in the mid 50's. A 'Miles Aerovan' awaiting repairs. A group of ex RAF aircraft awaiting conversion for civilian use (two'Percival Proctor's, four 'DH Tiger Moth's and a 'DH Dominie). A 'Percival Proctor and a 'DH Rapide' already converted and civilian registered. An 'Auster Aiglet Trainer' from the flying school being prepared (middle right). And a group of 'C47 Dakota's' already converted for the new B.O.A.C. parked out on the grass and another being worked on among the hangers.

(below) two more pictures of the 'Queen Salote' Aerovan, and a third one parked on the tarmac apron mid 1950's

Miles M2

(above) 'Miles M2W Hawk Trainer'. (below) two 'Miles M14 Hawk Trainers'. mid 1950's

(above) 'Miles M2F Hawk Major'. (below) 'Miles Hawk Speed 6'. mid 1950's

(below) Miles M2F Hawk Major

(above and below) Miles Hawk Major

(above) 'Miles Hawk Major'. 'Spirit of India'. October 1937

Miles M3

(above) 'Miles M3A Falcon Major'. G-AEFB. March 1936

Miles Magister

(above) 'Miles Magister'. mid 1950's

Miles M65 Gemini

(above and below) 'Miles M65 Gemini's'. mid 1950's

(above) Many well known personalities visited Croydon in the 1950's. One regular was Douglas Bader in a 'Miles M65 Gemini 7' in his role as a rep for 'Shell Aviation'.

(below) Gemini. 1959.

Miles M75 Aries

(above) 'Miles M75 Aries'. mid 1950's

Miles Messenger

(above) 'Miles Messenger' of the 'Womens Junior Air Corps'. Late 1950's

(below) Miles M38 Messenger 2A in the foreground. Olley Air Service Rapide behind.