George Herbert Miles
George Herbert Miles (1911-1999), Designer of light aircraft
1911 Born 28 July at Hove, brother of Frederick George Miles
Educated at Hove College
c.1929 Joined his brother at Southern Aircraft to develop a metal version of the Martlet.
Moved to Reading as engine manager and test pilot at Phillips and Powis Aircraft
1943 Company renamed Miles Aircraft
1943 George became chief engineer and chief designer[1]. He designed a number of light aircraft, including the revolutionary Libellula.
Other important designs included the Messenger, the twin-engined Gemini, the Aerovan and the supersonic jet M.52.
1948 When Miles Aircraft was put into liquidation, George moved to Airspeed as assistant chief designer [2] where he worked on the Ambassador which BEA called the Elizabethan.
1952 George became technical director of his brother's new company F. G. Miles Ltd.
1960 On the formation of Beagle Aircraft, George was appointed technical director and played a large part in the design of the Beagle 206.
1963 George Herbert Miles resigned from Beagle Aircraft and left the company. He was already director of F. G. Miles, Miles Electronics and Miles Structural Plastics[3]
1966 George Miles' company Miles Aviation and Transport of Shoreham planned to build an amphibious car, designed by Charles Vinten[4]
1966 Carried out a feasibility study (Miles Aviation and Transport) for the Ministry of Aviation of scheme proposed by Michael Bird for a rail-air link between London and Paris using a transferable module which would allow the passengers to stay in the same seats throughout the journey, on both monorail and in the aircraft; considerable saving of time for the journey was expected[5]
1970 After the demise of Beagle, George, as chairman of Miles Aviation and Transport Ltd, of Ford Aerodrome, Sussex, bid for the Shoreham part of the business, which had orders for 58 Bulldogs[6]. Then he concentrated on Miles Electronics and Miles Marine and Structural Plastics
1971 Made a proposal to avoid nationalisation of Rolls-Royce; was prepared to put in his own money[7]
1999 Died on 18 September.
See Also
Sources of Information
- The Times, November 12, 1999