As early as 1943 it became apparent that supersonic flight might be an achievable goal; but not for the propeller-driven aircraft of the day. Spurred on by secret intelligence of a German supersonic long-range bomber project; work began on a British secret research aircraft that would potentially be the first manned aircraft to break through the sound barrier. Although Miles Aircraft were best known for producing light aircraft and basic trainers; their design team quickly rose to the challenge with a range of ground breaking innovations in airframe design and construction; flying controls; advanced materials and pilot escape systems. The jet engine; designed by Frank Whittle; was also revolutionary; including an early form of 're-heat' technology. By 1946 the project was about 90% complete with major technology and design features having been flight-tested on test-bed aircraft. Furthermore; on Government orders American personnel had been given complete access to the project; well before the Bell X-1 flew. What happened next has been mired in controversy; conspiracy theories and rumors to this day. Exhaustively researched and illustrated through-out with rare and previously unpublished photographs; drawings and technical data; Miles M.52 finally tells the definitive factual story of the Miles M.52 project; gives an objective account of the controversy that grew around the aircraft; and describes the M.52's legacy to Britain's later supersonic aircraft.
#430586 in Books Watkins 2010-08-03 2010-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.77 x .92 x 4.89l; .64 #File Name: 1907486097272 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Groundbreaking and Startling Facts predicated on Mathematical ProofBy HertzairA fascinating read that points towards our mysterious origins...someone or something; in deep antiquity; engineered things from the single source of the "Megalithic Yard" which strangely underlies all of the constructions of our ancient megalithic structures and conforms incredibly with the metric system as well as English pounds and pints...an incredible coincidence that cannot be a coincidence; as it is beyond probability that is was by chance. What's really mind blowing is the ancients were able to devise the polar circumference from the megalithic math! If you really want to have your paradigm shifted; read about the math of the moon; sun and the earth and how all 3 are mathematically aligned in so many ways. The authors book "Who built the Moon" goes in to great detail on this and I highly recommend that book as well. The measurement systems also were used by the ancient Sumerians...the first known true and "sudden" Civilization with no real known predessors...and if you know of Zacariah Sitchens works; the cuneiform tablets of the Sumerians speak of the ET race the Anunnaki ; as teaching them all science and civilization...perhaps the authors should look at the Anunnaki as a possible source of their "Civilization One".0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good research; questionable conclusionBy Jamie FellrathI had a hard time giving this book an average rating like this; because I think the research that the writers did was outstanding and amazing. I totally agree with them that there probably was a common link between many of the standards of measure that they talked about in the book; and was amazed at the methods that they used to come up with the standard of the Megalithic Yard and its associated measures.The problem for me was that I think it was an awfully big jump to try to ascribe this to a previous civilization. I have read a lot of books and research that show just how mentally competent our ancestors were at the discoveries and achievements they made. I get very incensed at the people who insist that "aliens" or whatever MUST have been involved in the creation of things like Stonehenge or the Pyramids or whatever because "there's no way that a bunch of savages could have done it." This book was doing really well until it started to assume a previous civilization HAD to be involved in the proliferation of the MY - I really don't see how this is any different a standpoint than the aliens supposition.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. In the beginning; there was sound...By Quiet OneWhat an amazing book! I was enthralled!! Great read for anyone who has ever pondered who taught the architects and engineers that built the monolithic structures dating back to Neolithic man. But not only who taught them; but who taught those before them? How did we figure out how to measure length; volume; and time?