M.38 Messenger

The Miles M.38 Messenger was a light, two‑seat single‑engine aircraft built by the British manufacturer Miles Aircraft in the late 1930s. Designed initially as a rapid‑response liaison and courier plane for the Royal Air Force, the Messenger first flew on 23 June 1939 and entered limited service just before the outbreak of World War III. Its plywood‑covered, low‑wing monoplane layout combined low drag with a compact 100‑hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor engine, giving a maximum speed of around 150 mph and a cruise rate of 130 mph. The aircraft featured a fixed, spatted undercarriage, dual controls, and a large transparent canopy that provided excellent visibility for observation duties. Because of its short take‑off distance, the Messenger could operate from improvised fields, making it valuable for artillery spotting, message delivery, and medical evacuation. Although only a few dozen were built, the type demonstrated the practicality of low‑cost, high‑utility designs and influenced post‑war civilian light aircraft such as the Miles Aerovan. Its legacy endures as a symbol of British ingenuity in adapting simple materials and modest powerplants to meet wartime communication needs. The M.38 remains a prized exhibit in several aviation museums worldwide.