Miles M-65 Gemini 1A

Background

The Gemini followed on in role from the wartime M.38 Messenger. The Messenger had been conceived as an A.O.P aircraft, but only 21 were built, and all served as 4 seat VIP transports. The design was successful, and a further 71 were built post-war for civil use. The M.65 used a similar wing and fuselage to the Messenger, but only two fins on the tail. The major change was the move to a twin rather than single engine configuration, and the addition of retractable undercarriage. The prototype (G-AGUS) first flew on October 26, 1945, albeit with temporary fixed undercarriage.

The Mk.1A was powered by 100hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor engines, and had non retractable trailing edge flaps. The Mk.1B experimented with retractable flaps and only one was produced. The Mk.2 featured 125hp Continental engines, and again only one was produced. The Mk.3A did go into production, and featured 145hp DH Gipsy Major 10 engines. A variant powered by 155hp Blackburn Cirrus Major III engines which incorporated larger tail surfaces and a strengthened structure was redesignated as the M.75 Aries, but only two were built. Total Gemini production was 170 aircraft, which ended when the company collapsed in the late 1940's.

Five Geminis made their way to New Zealand over the years. Two survive - one (ZK-ANT) on display at MoTaT (illustrted below), and the other (to be ZK-KHW) is stored at North Shore for as a restoration project.

ZK-ANT (c/n 6322) Built in 1947 and imported for the Wellington Aero Club, the aircraft was registered on July 31, 1947. later sold to Mr A.B. Baker, the aircraft was retired to MoTaT in 1964. The registration was withdrawn on March 31, 1965.
ZK-ANU (c/n 6471) The aircraft was registered on December 15, 1947. Operated by the Ministry of Works. Destroyed in a crash near Bankside March 29, 1951 during a flight to Ashburton. The registration was cancelled September 5, 1951.
ZK-AQO (c/n 6472) Registered December 16 1947. Operated by the National Airways Corporation. The aircraft was withdrawn from use at Timaru, and the registration cancelled on May 11, 1967. I am informed by Colin Hay (last pilot of the aircraft) that the aircraft was disposed of by burning after the CoA was withdrawn due to concerns about the wings (An Australian aircraft lost a wing due to White Ant infestation - we don't have white ants in NZ).
ZK-AUA (c/n 6300, ex G-AKDL) Was registered July 24, 1950. The aircraft was written off at Whangarei (possibly June 1956?), but the registration was not cancelled until June 13, 1958.
ZK-KHW (reserved) (c/n6524, ex G-AKHW Imported damaged In storage S & G Smith, North Shore Aerodrome.

Thanks to Peter Layne, Colin Hay, and Simon for their assistance with the details.

Last Update:- 2 August, 2001

Technical Data

Data is for M-65 Mk1.A

Accommodation 4
Dimensions
- Span : 11.0m (36'2ft)
- Length : 6.8m (22'3ft)
- Height : 2.3m (7'6ft)
Weight
- empty : 866kg (1,910lb)
- max : 1361kg (3,000lb)
Power Plant : 2 x 100hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor.
Performance

max speed : 233km/h (145mph)
max climb : 650ft/min (198m/min)
ceiling : 13,500ft (4,114m)
range : 1,633km (1,015miles)

Images

Close Up

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