Miles M.52: Gateway to Supersonic Flight

In December 1943, Miles Aircraft was awarded a top-secret contract (E.24/43) to build the world's first supersonic jet capable of 1000mph. The research was inexplicably passed to the Americans in 1944, and by December 1945, one prototype was virtually complete. Capt Eric Brown was confirmed as the test pilot, and October 1946 was set for the supersonic trials. However, on 12 February 1946, Miles was ordered to stop production. Eric Brown and others have come together to try and solve the mystery behind the cancellation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 24 November 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

In December 1943, Miles Aircraft secured a top-secret contract (E.24/43) to create the world's inaugural supersonic jet capable of reaching speeds of 1000mph. The sole reliable source of information on supersonic objects came from the Armament Research Dept, which conducted wind tunnel tests on ammunition. From these tests, Miles designed an exceptionally thin-winged, bullet-shaped aircraft. The research was inexplicably passed to the Americans in 1944. By December 1945, one prototype was nearly complete, while the second, intended for a sound barrier attempt, was 80% complete. Capt Eric Brown was confirmed as the test pilot, and supersonic trials were scheduled for October 1946. However, on February 12, 1946, Miles received an order to halt production. No plausible explanation was provided for the cancellation, even though Britain was within six months of breaking the sound barrier. Eric Brown and other key individuals involved, including Dennis Bancroft, the Chief Aerodynamicist on the M.52, have united to unravel the mystery behind the cancellation.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 167 x 224 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803991672
Edition number: New ed