Miles’ previous experience with the Southern Martlet and Metal Martlet biplanes led to the desire to build a two-seat monoplane replacement for biplanes. The result was the M.2 Hawk, flown on 29 March 1933 and powered originally by a 95 hp / 71kW Cirrus IIIA engine. The selling price was £395.
Variants included the M.2a with an enclosed cabin, M.2b single-seat long-range version with an 89kW Hermes IV engine. Later M.2c aircraft offered the 89kW de Havilland Gipsy III, and the three-seat M.2d.
Hawk production totalled 55.
Further development of the basic type led to the Hawk Major series (64 built), beginning with the M.2F with the 97kW de Havilland Gipsy Major engine. The prototype Hawk, designated the Miles M.2F Hawk Major, was temporarily a single seater and finished second in the 1934 Kings Cup race at an average speed of 147.78 mph.
A range of variants up to the M.2T were built. Single-seat racing models were known as the Hawk Speed Six; three were built with 149kW Gipsy Six engines, and another somewhat smaller racing variant was the M.77 Sparrowhawk, of which five were built.
The final pre-war development was the Hawk Trainer, of which 25 were built
Engine: de Havilland Gipsy Major, 130 hp
Seats: 2
Max speed: 150 mph
ROC: 1000 fpm
All Aero 