Miles M.1 Satyr

The single-seat, aerobatic, Satyr biplane was designed in 1932 by F.G. Milesat Shoreham, Sussex. It was a wooden single-seat aerobatic biplane powered by a 75 hp Pobjoy R engine. Built by Parnall at Yate, Gloucestershire, the aircraft (registered G-ABVG) first flew in August 1932. Although the aircraft flew well Miles decided to concentrate on monoplane designs and only one was built. The only Satyr crashed in August or September 1936.

In 'Miles Aircraft since 1925' Don Brown recounts the crash as follows:

"The end of the Satyr was unusual and dramatic. One day in September 1936 Mrs Victor Bruce was approaching to land in a small field and, at the last moment, when it was too late to take evasive action, she noticed a large mass of telephone wires dead ahead, so close that there was no time either to climb or dive under them. Thinking what bad luck it would be on all the people whose telephones would be disconnected, she sailed on gaily into the wires expecting to go straight through them. However, she had overlooked the number of wires and the low momentum of the little Satyr. Instead of passing through the wires and landing in the field, the wires stretched but did not break. In a matter of seconds the Satyr was stopped dead in the air and then catapulted backwards into the field over which it had just flown. It was all over in a flash. Mrs Victor Bruce was unhurt but it was the end of the Satyr. This must be one of the few instances in which an aeroplane has landed backwards, although not very successfully."

The autobiography of the Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce ('Nine Lives Plus') deals with the circumstances of the crash ("on the green outside Stafford") she says:

"Suddenly there was an almighty crash. I thought that I had hit one of the houses, because the noise was terrific. Then I realised that I had flown into the telephone wires. The Satyr and I must have remained hanging inthe wires for at least half a minute. Then the wires gave way and we fell fifteen feet to the ground with a bang".
"The Satyr, of course, was badly damaged.............." and then: "While the Satyr was being repaired I hired a Gipsy Moth to take its place in the show..........".

So did the Satyr survive the crash and was repaired.

M.1
Engine: 1 × Pobjoy R, 75 hp (56 kW)
Wingspan: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
Length: 17 ft 8 in (5.38 m)
Empty weight: 594 lb (269 kg)
Gross weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
Maximum speed: 122 mph (196 km/h)
Crew: One