Miles M.57 Aerovan — Archival Technical & Flight Documentation Collection

The Miles M.57 Aerovan was one of the most innovative light freighters of the immediate post-war era — a twin-boom, high-wing, pod-fuselage transport produced by Miles Aircraft Limited of Reading, England. Designed for rapid cargo turnaround and short-field operations, the Aerovan entered service in 1945 and went on to inspire the four-engined Miles M.68 heavy-freight derivative. This collection brings together the primary-source factory publications that defined the aircraft's operational and engineering identity.

Documents Included in This Collection

• Miles M.57 Aerovan Pilots' Notes & Flight Manual (Technical Publication No. C.10, December 1946) — The definitive 85-page handling guide issued by Miles Aircraft Limited. Covers cockpit layout, standard operating procedures, emergency drills, and performance envelopes for the Blackburn Cirrus Major IIA/III-powered marks.
• Miles M.57 Aerovan Service Manual (Publication No. C.9) — The complete six-part maintenance and servicing manual issued by Miles Aircraft Limited. Covers airframe description, inspection schedules (between-flight, 40-hour, and 320-hour), ground handling, component removal, structural repairs, and special modifications including alternative engine installations (De Havilland Gipsy Major, Avco Lycoming O-435).
• Miles M.57 Aerovan Specification Brochure (Ref. M57/2/7/7/4000/B) — Factory specification sheet with aerial photography of G-AILC, structural data, and payload/range figures. The primary commercial document used by Miles to market the Aerovan to operators.
• Miles M.68 Brochure & Technical Description (Ref. M68/1/9/7/2000/A) — Four-page factory brochure for the four-engined M.68 freight derivative, including three-view drawings, detachable freight-hold photographs, and the full M.68 specification brief (four Blackburn Cirrus Minor engines, 1,600 lb payload, 400-mile range with full load).
• Blackburn Cirrus Engine Documentation — Supporting technical publications covering the Cirrus Major and Cirrus Minor powerplants fitted across the Aerovan family, including the Spare Parts Catalogue and Maintenance Manual.

Aircraft at a Glance — M.57 Aerovan

• Manufacturer: Miles Aircraft Limited, Reading, England
• Configuration: Twin-boom, high-wing monoplane, pod fuselage
• Powerplant: Two Blackburn Cirrus Major IIA/III (150 hp each)
• Maximum Speed: 127 mph (204 km/h)
• Cruising Speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
• Stalling Speed: 46 mph (74 km/h)
• Service Ceiling: 13,250 ft (4,039 m)
• Construction: Composite plastic-bonded plywood skin over wooden structure

The M.68 — Aerovan's Freight Evolution

The Miles M.68 scaled the Aerovan concept into a four-engined heavy freighter with a revolutionary detachable freight hold — a 10 ft × 4 ft 6 in container fitted with road wheels and a towing bar, enabling direct door-to-door cargo movement without reloading. Powered by four 100 hp Blackburn Cirrus Minor engines, the M.68 achieved a cruising speed of 130 mph with an 800-mile maximum range. The brochure included in this collection is one of the rarest surviving commercial documents from Miles Aircraft's post-war freight programme.

Permitted Uses

This archival collection is ideal for historians, restorers, flight simulation developers, museum curators, and serious collectors of British post-war aviation documentation.

⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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