FlyPast – August 2018

(John Hannent) #1

PILOT’S PERSPECTIVE MILES MAGISTER


124 FLYPAST August 2018

A


s I walked out to the bright
yellow aircraft on a beautiful
summer’s day in 2012 at
Old Warden, Bedfordshire, I was
very much looking forward to the
forthcoming flight.
I’ve always liked open cockpit
monoplanes, and with its tandem
seats the Miles Magister
is my idea of a real fun
flying machine.

Furthermore, its rarity and good
looks always draw a crowd, and
it boasts a unique claim to fame,
being the first monoplane primary
trainer operated by
t h e R A F.

Maggie


Magical


Few modern-day pilots have sampled the Miles


Magister, a classic wartime trainer. FlyPast’s


Dave Unwin describes a fl ight in the famous


‘Maggie’, with photography by Keith Wilson


Above right
Dave Unwin completes pre-fl ight checks at Old Warden.

Right
Dave Unwin fl ying Miles Magister G-AKPF from Old Warden
in 2012. ALL KEITH WILSON
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