Miles Aerovan M57 Mk 4, NZ 1751 to NZ 1752, 1949 to 1954.

Design:
Fredrick & George Miles

Company:
Miles
Handley Page

Wing Span:
50 ft 0 in 15.24 M

Wing Area:
390 sq ft

Length:
36 ft 0 in 10.97 M

Height:
13 ft 6 in 4.11 M

Ceiling:
13,250 ft 4,000 M

Speed
max
127 MPH

Cruising 10,000 ft
112 MPH 180 KPH

Range: 2,500 lb Load
400 Miles

T/O Weight:
5,800 lb

Crew:
2 Pilot

Role:
Top Dressing Trials
Aerial Magnetometer Surveys
Short range Low-cost transport

Total Manufactured:
39 Mk4
50 All Mks

First Flight:
26 Jan 1945

Armament:
Nil

Qty Served:
2

Years Served:
1949 to 1951

Tail Nos:
NZ 1751 NZ 1752

Twin engine high wing monoplane made from plastic bonded plywood
with some spruce and metal parts
Fixed tricycle U/C, 3 vertical fins

ENGINE

Image Source

Qty:
2

Type:
Blackburn Cirrus Major 3

4 cylinder, air-cooled, in-line, inverted

Bore:
4.72 in 120 mm

Stroke:
5.51 in 140 mm

Volume:
385.64 cu in 6.31 L

Horse Power:
155 HP

Max RPM
2,350 RPM

Fuel:
73 Octane

Length:
50 in 1,270 mm

Height:
30 in 762 mm

Width:
17.5 in 444 mm

Weight:
310 lb 141 kg

Power to Weight Ratio:
0.43 hp/lb 0.71 KW/Kg

Notes:
Built by Handley Page [Reading]
After their takeover of Miles

Imported By John Gamble Oct 1949

Assembled at Rongotai Nov1949

NZ 1751

Constructors No.: 6428
UK Registration G21-3
Shipped To Wellington
B O C Shelly Bay 23 Nov 1949
Imported for top dressing trials with RNZAF
Fitted with a 1 ton hopper
Operated by Research and Development Flight
Part of 41 Sqn Whenuapai
Sold from Whenuapai
By Government Stores Board Tender No 4280 6 Nov 1950
Flown 67.0 Hrs
To Paul and Gray 6 Apr 1951
Registered ZK – AWV
To Airwork NZ Ltd 16 Apr 1951
C of A issued 21 May 1951
Leased to NZ Railways for freight charters and
Other freight work
Positioned at Wellington in preparation
For a supply dropping mission
In the Tararua Ranges
While parked outside a hanger it was picked
Up by a gust of wind and
Thrown against the hanger 2 Nov 1951
Written off
Remains sent to Christchurch for use as
Spares for the other Aerovan

NZ 1752

Constructors No.: 6427
UK Registration G21-4
Shipped to Wellington
B O C Shelly Bay 20 Jan 1950
Imported for Airborne Magnetic Survey work with DSIR
Fitted with a Mangnometer
Operated by Research and Development Flight
Part of 41 Sqn Whenuapai
Principal pilot George Washington
Sold from Whenuapai
By Government Stores Board tender No 4281 6 Nov 1951
Flown 103.0 Hrs
To Paul and Gray 28 Sep 1951
Registered ZK – AWW
To Southland Aerial Fertiliser Ltd
[Hewett Aviation Ltd] 16 Nov 1951
C of A issued 16 Nov 1951
The A/C proved unsuitable for aerial top
Dressing and was converted to freight and
Passenger work with a 10 seat cabin fitted by
Airwork NZ Ltd
Used for freight and sight seeing work in
South Island
The A/C was flying from it’s base at
Mossburn to Roxburgh
But fog closed the airport there and the alternatives.
The pilot headed for a farm strip but the
A/C ran out of fuel and was
Forced to land in a turnip patch 1/2 a mile
Short of the runway 26 Feb 1954
Written off remains returned to Christchurch
Fuselage later converted to a caravan

Unsourced photos though the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner