Miles Martinet - Definition and Overview

Miles Martinet
Description
Role	Target tow
Crew	2
First Flight	April 24, 1942
Entered Service
Manufacturer	Miles Aircraft Ltd
Dimensions
Length	30 ft 11 in	9.42 m
Wingspan	39 ft 0 in	11.89 m
Height	11 ft 7 in	3.53 m
Wing area	238 ft²	22.1 m²
Weights
Empty	4,600 lb	2,090 kg
Loaded	6,680 lb	3,030 kg
Powerplant
Engines	1 x Bristol Mercury XX or 30
Power	785 hp (XX) 820 hp (30)	585 kW 610 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	237 mph at 15,000 ft	381 km/h at 4,600 m
Range	600 miles	966 km
Service ceiling	ft	m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	28.1 lb/ft²	137.1 kg/m²
Power/Mass	0.235 hp/lb	0.389 kW/kg

The Miles Martinet (M.25) was a target-tow aircraft of the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm that was in service during World War II. It was the first British aircraft to be designed specifically for the role of towing targets. Based upon the Miles Master II, the Martinet featured a strengthened airframe to handle the stresses of towing a target drogue. Other differences from the Master included a longer nose, higher cockpit and greater wing span but otherwise the two aircraft shared much common componentry. The targets and towing gear were contained in a fairing beneath the fuselage and were retracted by an external, wind-powered winch.

The first prototype of the Martinet was flown on April 24, 1942. In total 1,724 Martinets were produced for the RAF and FAA to meet Air Ministry Specification 12/41. Production continued until the end of the war.

There were two other variants of the Martinet. The M.50 Queen Martinet was a radio-controlled target drone of which 65 were built and a further 17 produced through conversion of an M.25. The M.37 Martinet Trainer was developed during the war but only two were ever produced.