- Beagle B.218
-
B.218 / B.242 Role Light transport monoplane National origin United Kingdom Manufacturer Beagle Aircraft Limited First flight 19 August 1962 Status Destroyed Produced 1961-1962 Number built 1 The Beagle B.218X (also known as the Beagle-Miles M.218) was a 1960s British four-seat twin-engined light transport monoplane built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport.[1][2] The prototype was modified into the Beagle B.242X but neither variant entered production.[1][2]
Contents
Design and development
Before it became part of Beagle Miles Aircraft had looked at producing a replacement for the Miles Messenger and Gemini.[1] Three twin-engined low-wing monoplane designs were considered, the fixed landing gear Miles 114 in two and four-seat versions and the retractable landing gear four-seat Miles 115.[1] When Beagle was formed it was decided to build a prototype of the Miles 115 design designated the Beagle-Miles M.218, it was also decided to build a prototype of the Miles 114 as the M.117 but in the end it was not built.[1]
The M.218 was of plastic construction and was a powered by two 145 hp (108 kW) Rolls Royce Continental O-300 piston engines and had a retractable tricycle landing gear.[1] Construction started at the end of 1961 and it made its first flight at Shoreham on 19 August 1962.[1] Registered G-ASCX[3] it was displayed at the 1962 Farnborough Air Show priced at £9,800, it did create interest from customers although they had a preference for metal built aircraft rather than the plastic M.218.[1]
The production aircraft were to be named Martlet but the company did not have the money to put it into production and it was withdrawn in 1963 for modification.[1] A lot of the plastic parts were changed to metal and more powerful 195 hp (145 kW) IO-360 engines were fitted.[1] Now re-registered G-ASTX[4] it reflew again on the 27 August 1963 and was re-designated the Beagle B.242.[1] The aircraft was issued with a certificate of airworthiness on 18 June 1965 but the company was busy with the production of the twin-engined Beagle B.206 and single-engined Beagle Pup and could not afford to further develop the type or put it into production.[1] The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1966 and subsequently destroyed in a fire in August 1969.[1]
Variants
- Beagle B.218X
- Prototype with O-300 engines, 1 built.[2]
- Beagle B.242X
- M.218 extensively modified and fitted with IO-360 engines.[2]
Specifications (B.218X)
Data from [2]British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
- Empty weight: 2164 lb (982 kg)
- Gross weight: 3200 lb (1451 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls Royce Continental O-300 piston, 145 hp (108 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 mph (297 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 140 mph (225 km/h)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- Notes
- Sources
Beagle Aircraft Miles aircraft Southern Martlet · M.1 Satyr · M.2 Hawk · M.2 Hawk Major · M.2 Hawk Speed Six · M.2 Hawk Trainer · M.3A Falcon Major · M.3B Falcon Six · M.4 Merlin · M.5 Sparrowhawk · M.6 Hawcon · M.7 Nighthawk · M.8 Peregrine · M.9 Kestrel · M.9A Master I · M.11 Whitney Straight · M.12 Mohawk · M.13 Hobby · M.14 Magister · M.15 T.1/37 · M.16 Mentor · M.17 Monarch · M.18 · M.19 Master II · M.20 · M.24 Master Fighter · M.25 Martinet · M.26 · M.27 Master III · M.28 Mercury · M.30 X Minor · M.33 Monitor · M.35 Libellula · M.37 Martinet Trainer · M.38 Messenger · M.39 Libellula · M.50 Queen Martinet · M.52 · M.57 Aerovan · M.60 Marathon I · M.65 Gemini · M.68 Boxcar · M.69 Marathon II · M.71 Merchantman · M.75 Aries · M.76 · M.77 Sparrowjet · M.100 Student · M.105 · M.115
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- British civil utility aircraft 1960–1969
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