Miles Hawk

The Miles Hawk was a light, two‑seat monoplane produced by the British firm Miles Aircraft during the mid‑1930s. First flying in 1934, the Hawk was conceived as a modern replacement for the aging de Havilland Tiger Moth, offering higher speed, greater comfort and a sleek low‑wing design. Powered initially by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, later variants such as the Hawk Major and Hurricane‑type Hawks employed 150‑200 hp engines, allowing cruise speeds of up to 150 mph and a range of roughly 600 miles. Its all‑metal, stressed‑skin construction was advanced for a civilian trainer, giving excellent handling, low stall characteristics and a short take‑off roll, which made it popular with flying clubs and the Royal Air Force as a basic trainer and liaison aircraft. Over 600 Hawks were built before production ceased in 1940, when Miles shifted to wartime work, and the aircraft’s simplicity, economical operation and robust design helped to democratise private flying in Britain. Its aerodynamic refinements influenced later Miles models such as the Magister and Gemini. Today, surviving Hawks are prized by vintage enthusiasts and serve as a reminder of pre‑war British aeronautical innovation.