Miles & Atwood Special

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Miles & Atwood Special
Miles & Atwood Special (replica) 'NR225Y - 1' (26789075021).jpg
Miles and Atwood Special replica at the Planes of Fame Air Museum
Role Air racing
National origin United States
Designer Lawrence W Brown
Number built 1

The Miles & Atwood Special is a racing aircraft developed during the interwar period

Air racing sport involving aircraft in racing competitions

Air racing is a highly specialised type of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a previously estimated time.

Sometimes dubbed the Golden Age of Aviation, the period in the history of aviation between the end of World War I (1918) and the beginning of World War II (1939) was characterised by a progressive change from the slow wood-and-fabric biplanes of World War I to fast, streamlined metal monoplanes, creating a revolution in both commercial and military aviation. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 the biplane was all but obsolete. This revolution was made possible by the continuing development of lightweight aero engines of increasing power. The jet engine also began development during the 1930s but would not see operational use until later.

Contents

Development

The Miles & Atwood Special is a single seat, low-wing, open cockpit, racing aircraft with conventional landing gear. It was built by Leon Atwood and Lee Miles. [1] [2] [3]

Conventional landing gear aircraft undercarriage arrangement with main gear forward plus tail support

Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail. The term taildragger is also used, although some claim it should apply only to those aircraft with a tailskid rather than a wheel.

The aircraft uses solid wood spars. Fabric was attached using a relatively new process using screws with fabric tape covering, rather than conventional rib-stitching. The aircraft raced with a green livery waxed to a high gloss. Lee Miles died when a flying wire broke in a 1937 qualifying race. [1] [2] [3]

Operational history

National Air Races

The National Air Races are a series of pylon and cross-country races that took place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and showcase for this.

Specifications (Miles & Atwood Special)

Data from History's Most Important Racing Aircraft

General characteristics

Menasco Pirate

The Menasco Pirate series were four-cylinder, air-cooled, in-line, inverted aero-engines, built by the Menasco Motors Company of Burbank, California, for use in light general and sport aircraft during the 1930s and 1940s. The Menasco engines came in both normally aspirated and supercharged forms, with the supercharged models exhibiting superior performance at higher altitudes, with a relatively small increase in dimensions and weight. The supercharged models had the S suffix added to their designation to show supercharging.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Menasco Powered Flying Machines". Flying Magazine: 231. October 1934.
  2. 1 2 Don Berliner. History's Most Important Racing Aircraft. p. 49.
  3. 1 2 Thomas G. Matowitz. Cleveland's National Air Races. p. 43.

Further reading

Brown B-2 Racer

The Brown B-2 Racer was an American-built small monoplane racing aircraft built in 1934.

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