Front view of the M.35 taken in June 1942. The aircraft in the background at right are Magisters, Masters, an Anson and a Blenheim.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Anson / Type 652 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935Bristol Blenheim - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1936Miles M.14 Magister - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937Miles M.19 Master II / M.27 Master III - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1939Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

The M.35 after the tailwheel and over wing undercarriage-leg fairings had been fitted.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Another one-off, the Miles M.35 Libellula, or dragonfly, U-0235, seen here being flown by George, the younger of the flying Miles Brothers. George's brainchild, the M.35 was designed and assembled within a six week period and kept under wraps from the possible prying eyes of government officials, lest they veto this unconventional, low speed, low powered test vehicle for a proposed deck-landing fighter. Lacking any wind tunnel testing that would have alerted the men from the ministry, George was to fly the ground-hugging canard for the first time on 1 May 1942: and probably instantly regretted it. as the aircraft promptly proved to be inherently unstable around its pitching axis when eventually coaxed aloft. This problem remained with the M.35, being only partially alleviated by the use of ballast. As the larger and later M.39B canard was to show, the 130hp DH Gipsy Major-powered M.35'S troubles lay not with its back-to-front layout, but with the lack of pre-flight wind tunnel testing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Three-quarter front view of the M.35 taken in June 1942. The cockpit was positioned to provide an excellent field of view - an important feature in a carrier-borne fighter, the role for which the Libellula was conceived.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

The Miles M.35 Libellula shortly after completion and before the auxiliary tailwheel and overwing undercarriage-leg fairings were fitted. The aircraft carries the “B Conditions" marking U0235.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

A rear three-quarter view of the M.35. The aircraft’s 130 h.p. de Havilland Gipsy Major engine suffered cooling problems, resulting in the addition of the large air scoop visible below the starboard aft wing root.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

A rear view of the M.35. The rear wing spanned 20ft 5in, the front 20ft. The purpose of the small, apparently hinged flat-plate surfaces on either side of the engine cowling has not been ascertained.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Miles M.35 Libellula - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1942