Flight, February 1936

LEARNING in LUXURY
The Miles Nighthawk: A Cabin Monoplane Built Primarily for Instruction in Instrument- and Night-flying Training

   WITH an eye constantly on the market for training aircraft, Phillips and Powis Aircraft, Ltd., have lately put into production a new monoplane known as the Nighthawk and intended for tuition in instrument flying and night flying. The new machine is likely to interest clubs which have been approved by the Air Ministry for blind-flying training, air lines which are undertaking the instruction of their own personnel, and schools which obtain training contracts from air lines. The Nighthawk is believed to be the first cabin machine in this country equipped specifically for giving instruction in instrument flying.
   Basically, the machine may be regarded as a derivation of the Falcon. The first two to have been built are fitted with the 200 h.p. D.H. Gipsy Six, but the 130 h.p. Gipsy Major is an alternative power plant.
   Structurally, the machine follows standard Miles practice; that is, it is of wood with a box-type fuselage and two-spar wings with plywood covering taking the drag and torsional stresses.
   Side-by-side seats are provided for the pilot and pupil; there are dual controls, and either half of the cabin can be shut off from the other by an ingenious hood which “blinds” the pupil to everything except his instruments. When this hood is in use the view from the instructor's seat is still adequate, and his range of vision extends right across the machine. The hood which covers his head is divided at the front and secured by press studs; when he wishes to emerge from it he undoes the flap and slides the whole hood back on rails.
   In order that instruction may be given in all types of controls as fitted to various machines, three alternative forms of control may be installed. One is a central column which can be operated easily by either occupant, the second is a "Y" type column, and the third, also of "Y" formation, is provided with wheels for aileron control.
   The seats are arranged to take seat-pack parachutes, and the exits have been designed with a view to quick release in an emergency. Behind the seats a large space is available and might be used for camera equipment, wireless installation, and drift or bomb sights. Actually, the all-up weight permits an extra pupil to be carried behind the instructor, where he could take notes of mistakes made by the learner in the front seat. The blind and night-flying instruments, of course, are duplicated, one set being on each side of the instrument panel.
   The leading edges of the wings contain Harley landing lights (which can be pivoted and rotated from the cockpit), and the trailing edges have Miles hydraulically operated flaps to give a steep angle of approach and low landing speed. Normal navigation lights are fitted. The undercarriage is of conventional Miles design with ball-bearing wheels and long-travel legs and incorporated the "trousers" which have become standard on Miles designs.
   The following performance figures are obtained with the Nighthawk fitted with the Gipsy Six engine : Maximum speed, 175 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 155 m.p.h.; climb to 1,000ft., 1 minute; stalling speed, 50-55 m.p.h.; ceiling, 23,000ft.