Beagle B.218

B.218 / B.242
Role Light transport monoplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Beagle Aircraft Limited
First flight 19 August 1962
Status Destroyed
Produced 1961-1962
Number built 1


The Beagle B.218X (also known as the Beagle-Miles M.218) was a 1960s British four-seat twin-engined light transport monoplane built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport.[1][2] The prototype was modified into the Beagle B.242X but neither variant entered production.[1][2]

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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1]

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.[1] Construction started at the end of 1961 and it made its first flight at Shoreham on 19 August 1962.[1] Registered G-ASCK[3] 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.[1]

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aircraft were to be named Martlet but the company did not have the money to put it into production and it was withdrawn in 1963 for modification.[1] A new metal fuselage was built and more powerful 195 hp (145 kW) IO-360 engines were fitted.[1] Now re-registered G-ASTX[4] it reflew again on the 27 August 1964, now designated as the Beagle B.242.[1] 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Beagle Pup and could not afford to further develop the type or put it into production.[1] The aircraft was withdrawn from use in 1966 and subsequently destroyed in a fire in August 1969.[1]

Variants

Beagle B.218X
Prototype with O-300 engines, 1 built.[2]
Beagle B.242X
M.218 extensively modified and fitted with IO-360 engines.[2]

Specifications (B.218X)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1.[2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beagle aircraft.
Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Beagle 1974, p. 38
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jackson 1974, p. 297
  3. 1 2 3 4 Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - G-ASCK
  4. 1 2 3 4 Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - G-ASTX
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Taylor 1962, pp. 130–131.
Sources
  • Beagle Aircraft - A Production History. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. 1974. ISBN 0-904597-00-8. 
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9. 
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1962). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. 


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