M.23 Fighter Projects
In 1941 a proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Aircraft Production
for a high-speed single-seat fighter powered initially by a Rolls-Royce
Merlin engine, then in full production, and later by a more powerful
Rolls-Royce Griffon as soon as it became available. The aircraft was of
wood construction with the exception of the wing spars, which were of
metal. It was fitted with a reversed tricycle undercarriage, the rear unit
of which was provided with two positions, giving either a horizontal or a
taildown attitude to the fuselage. The main undercarriage units folded
inwards into the wings, giving a wide track.
In order to reduce frontal area, the windscreen and canopy were very
low indeed. To enable the pilot to have adequate view for take-off and
landing, he could raise his seat, the top of the canopy hinging up to form
a windscreen as in the Master. The wing was of elliptical planform, the
root thickness being 0.2c. Armament consisted of eight .303 Browning
guns together with 500 rounds of ammunition per gun instead of the 300
provided on contemporary fighters. Alternatively, two 20 mm Hispano-
Suiza cannon could be fitted. The wing area was substantially less than on
existing fighters, being only 185 sq ft as compared with 242 on the Spitfire
and 258 on the Hurricane, and the wing loading was accordingly higher.
The M.23 was not ordered, possibly because it was of wooden construction
and possibly because the Ministry did not believe that, even with
a Griffon engine, a speed of 470 mph would be attainable with a 20 per
cent thick wing.
- Miles Aircraft since 1925, Don L. Brown, Putnam 1970
