The Craft of Providing Variety in Airplanes

Miles and Rutan found a way to master diversification in their designs.

Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 08:47 AM ET

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In one of his books, German novelist W.G. Sebald describes the mesmerizing sight of the familiar constellations overhead. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

The article uses an aviation inaccuracy in W.G. Sebald's novel *Austerlitz*—misidentifying a Miles Gemini as a "Cessna"—to introduce the innovative British aircraft designer Frederick George Miles.
Miles is presented as a versatile and prolific designer, comparable to Burt Rutan, known for his diverse range of aircraft, from pre-war trainers and the successful Gemini twin to experimental canard designs.
His most ambitious project was the M.52 supersonic jet, developed during WWII with groundbreaking features like a powered all-flying stabilizer, intended to be the first to break the sound barrier.
The M.52 project was controversially canceled in 1946, leading to speculation about whether it was due to external pressure or internal technical doubts regarding its powerful engine.

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German novelist W.G. Sebald liked to salt his fiction with photographs. They illustrated his scenes so well that I had to wonder whether he staged the photos to match his text or shaped his story to match photos he happened to have.

In one of his books, Austerlitz, the title character goes flying at night with pilot friend Gerald Fitzpatrick in a “Cessna.” He describes the mesmerizing sight of the familiar constellations overhead. Now, looking up at the stars from an airplane is an entrancing experience, but no one ever had it in a Cessna.

Peter Garrison

Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.