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The Miles M.65 Gemini was a British twin-engined four-seat touring aircraft designed and built by Miles Aircraft at Woodley Aerodrome. It was the last Miles aircraft to be produced in quantity.
Development of the Gemini was conducted at a rapid pace following the end of the Second World War, the company being keen to bring its new designs to the postwar civil aviation sector. The speed of development was greatly bolstered by basing the design on the single-engined Miles Messenger. First flying on 26 October 1945, the company's confidence in the aircraft was such that sales demonstrations using the prototype started only days later, while efforts to commence large scale production were started immediately.
Within its first year of availability, 130 Geminis had been sold, proving its popularity. It performance was such that it became a successful racing aircraft, with one example alone winning numerous competitions. The company endeavoured to introduce numerous improvements upon the type, along with early work to produce a successor to the Gemini. However, these ambitions were cut short by the company's collapse after its bankruptcy in 1947. While efforts to revive production were made, including the development of the improved Miles M.75 Aries, the type was never able to regain momentum.
On 26 October 1945, the prototype Gemini performed its maiden flight; it was initially flown with a temporary fixed Landing gear, unlike future aircraft that featured a retractable arrangement instead. Pilots reported that the type was pleasant to fly from the onset. There were relatively few issues encountered with the prototype; while there was an airflow issue discovered that negatively affected three point landings, this was rapidly resolved via the addition of leading edge slats between the fuselage and the engine nacelles.Brown 1970, pp. 316-319. Such was the company's confidence that the prototype was first used to perform flying demonstrations to potential customers only days following its first flight.Brown 1970, p. 319.
The Gemini was put into large scale production straight away; it was also recognised that the superior performance of the type had eliminated for the Miles Mercury, thus production plans for the latter were abandoned in favour of concentrating the company's resources on the Gemini. Such was the market's positive response to the type that 130 Geminis had been sold within its first year of availability. It would in fact be the last Miles-designed aircraft to attain large scale production. While the company had commenced work on developing a Gemini successor, wider events would derail such ambitions.Brown 1970, p. 324.
Miles, recognising the value of the Gemini in its lineup, sought to further develop and improve the type. However, even as the company was finalising work on numerous improvements, including the adoption of new engines, the firm was forced to declare bankruptcy due to the poor state of its finances.Brown 1970, pp. 319-320. Following the collapse of the company during 1947 and the subsequent purchase of the Reading aircraft factory and other assets by rival aircraft manufacturer Handley Page, eight aircraft that had not been completed were assembled; two by Handley Page at Woodley in 1950, five by Wolverhampton Aviation at Pendeford Aerodrome in 1951, and one by F. G. Miles Limited at Redhill Aerodrome.Jackson 1988, pp. 86–87.
The flight controls of the Gemini was well-harmonised and remained effective right up to the stall margin; the characteristics of a typical stall were relatively benign as well and free of any tendency to spin while recovery was rapid. The controls were effective to the extent that the final approach could be performed only barely above touch down speed. One of the few adverse handling characteristics was a marked tendency for the aircraft to swing on takeoff, which was easily addressed by the pilot using full rudder and differential throttle settings to counteract.Brown 1970, pp. 316-317. While not typically fitted as such, a handful of Geminis were outfitted with dual controls.Brown 1970, p. 321.
Originally powered by 90 hp (67,5 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Minor engines, the later-built Gemini variants were powered by several different engines.Brown 1970, pp. 319-320. To give the aircraft its relatively long range, the aircraft featured a pair of 15 gallon outboard tanks that supplemented the two 18 gallon tanks that the design shared with the Messenger.Brown 1970, p. 317. The Gemini was frequently promoted by its manufacturer as being the "safest light aeroplane in the world".
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Geminis were frequently entered in air races; in one example, G-AKDC, flown by J.N. 'Nat' Somers AFC, emerged as the victor of the 1949 King's Cup Air Race (a handicapped event) at ; this aircraft was fitted with de Havilland Gipsy Major engines that were rated at each. "Elmdon Results in Detail." Flight, 11 August 1949. p. 152.Brown 1970, p. 320. Being refitted with even more powerful engines, this same Gemini won several further races, including the Siddeley Trophy in 1953, the Kemsley Trophy in 1954, and the Goodyear Trophy in 1955. The racing motorist Prince Bira of Siam also opted to buy a Gemini for his own purposes.
Several aircraft were used as light business transports by commercial firms, including Shell-Mex & BP, Fairey Aviation and B.K.S Engineering. Other examples were flown by UK independent airlines on light charter work within the British Isles and Europe; the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) being one such operator. A number were also purchased by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for licence testing and radio calibration work.
During 1951, a pair of aircraft were completed by F. G. Miles that were fitted with Blackburn Cirrus Major III engines, along with enlarged and heightened fins for better handling during single-engine operations.Brown 1970, p. 322. To reflect the revised design, which gave the aircraft an increased payload amongst other performance changes, they were re-named Miles M.75 Aries. Although quantity production of this model did not occur, a handful of Geminis were retrofitted with some of these changes.Brown 1970, pp. 322-323.
The Cinema Museum in London holds extensive footage of one of these planes touring Europe in the 1950s.
CAA GINFO One Gemini 1A is also active in the Swedish aircraft register.
One aircraft, registered ZK-ANT, is on static display in New Zealand at the Museum of Transport & Technology. LN-TAH, Gemini 1A is being restored for static display in the terminal at Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik. This is ex. G-AKKA.
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