M.A.T.S. (Miles) Venture

In August, 1943, Mr. F. G. Miles asked the school to design and build an aircraft which could be used as a "test-bed" for an electrical automatic pilot and for other electrical equipment. A high-wing twin-engined monoplane was specified, with a tricycle undercarriage and low landing speed, and the aircraft was required to carry two pilots with additional cabin space for engineers to work at a test bench. At the time, the only students with any drawing training were girls, and twelve of them submitted general designs. The best of these designs were used as a basis for further design work. A competition to find a name for the aircraft resulted in it being aptly called Venture.

The Venture was completely overlooked by every publication dealing with Miles Aircraft (only a passing mention in one of them), but following my discovery of the type, and with the invaluable help of Paul Touratier, who contacted Jean Fostekew, archivist at The Museum of Berkshire Aviation [link], a set of rare photos of the prototype in construction, a sketchy three-view arrangement (see bottom right) and even a humorous cartoon were revealed.

All of these enabled me to contribute in 2011 what I believe was the very first ever three-view of the Venture published anywhere (if I'm wrong, by all means please let me know!). I'm aware the result is not perfect, and in a couple of cases I had to make decisions that can be debated, such as when several lines seem possible (vertical tail in profile view, upper wing in front view for instance). I also did a highly speculative test of a color profile. (see below right)

I'm open to any manner of criticism that could make me improve this three-view drawing... Enjoy!

• A very pleasing 3-view, Stargazer2006. I cannot comment on the minutiae of accuracy, but it is nevertheless, a real pleasure to view. Well done. (foiling)
• Mooi inderdaad...beautiful indeed. Thanks. (lark)
• A very beautiful 3 views my dear Stephane. Bravo ! (toura)