Beagle B.218

Design and development

Before it became part of Beagle Miles Aircraft had looked at producing replacements for the (single-engined) Miles Messenger and (twin-engined) Gemini. Three low-wing monoplane designs were considered, the single-engined fixed landing gear Miles 114 in two and four-seat versions and the retractable landing gear twin-engined four-seat Miles 115. When Beagle was formed it was decided to build a prototype of the Miles 115 design designated the Beagle-Miles M.218; it was also decided to build a prototype of the Miles 114 as the M.117 but in the end it was not built.

The M.218 was of plastic construction and was powered by two 145 hp (108 kW) Rolls Royce Continental O-300 piston engines and had a retractable tricycle landing gear. Construction started at the end of 1961 and it made its first flight at Shoreham on 19 August 1962. Registered G-ASCK it was displayed at the 1962 Farnborough Air Show priced at £9,800, it did create interest from customers although they had a preference for metal built aircraft rather than the plastic M.218.

The production aircraft were to be named Martlet but the company did not have the money to put it into production and it was withdrawn in 1963 for modification. A new metal fuselage was built and more powerful 195 hp (145 kW) IO-360 engines were fitted. Now re-registered G-ASTX it reflew again on the 27 August 1964, now designated as the Beagle B.242. The aircraft was issued with a certificate of airworthiness on 18 June 1965 but the company was busy with the production of the twin-engined Beagle B.206 and single-engined Beagle Pup and could not afford to further develop the type or put it into production. The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1966 and subsequently destroyed in a fire in August 1969.

Variants

Beagle B.218X

Prototype with O-300 engines, 1 built.

Beagle B.242X

M.218 extensively modified and fitted with IO-360 engines.

Specifications (B.218X)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1.

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Capacity: 3 passengers

Length: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)

Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)

Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)

Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m²)

Aspect ratio: 8.05:1

Airfoil: NACA 23018 at root, NACA 2412 at tip

Empty weight: 2,164 lb (982 kg)

Gross weight: 3,200 lb (1,451 kg)

Fuel capacity: 70 L (15 imp gal; 18 US gal)

Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Continental O-300-C air-cooled flat-six, 145 hp (108 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h; 161 kn)

Cruise speed: 140 mph (122 kn; 225 km/h)

Range: 1,000 mi (869 nmi; 1,609 km) (max fuel)

Service ceiling: 21,700 ft (6,614 m)

Rate of climb: 1,370 ft/min (7.0 m/s)