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BROWN, DON L: : MILES AIRCRAFT SINCE 1925. [Author SIGNED & association copy.]

LONDON.PUTNAM COMPANY LIMITED,1970.

ISBN 0370001273.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn and an unusual association copy.NFINE/NFINE.No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to protected dw/dj.However,there are 3 interesting, associated hand-written dedicated inscrptions: a) 'For Clifford Hands F.G. Miles.', b)' Very best wishes to Clifford Hands. Jeremy Miles.', c) 'Clifford,with very best wishes Don' (book's author) in either black or blue ink for each inscrptn,to the front free endpaper.Bright,crisp,clean,protected, yellow background and b/w photographic illustrated upper panelled dw/dj,b/w publisher's list/advert for other titles, to rear panel; with negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top edge coloured dark blue,fore- edges generally clean; contents bright, tight and near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners. Though protected,dw/dj's spine/backstrip inevitably,lightly sunned/faded.Bright, clean,sharp-cornered,publisher's original, textured,dark blue cloth bds with bright, crisp,stamped,gilt letters to spine/ backstrip and immaculate plain white eps with aforementioned triple SIGNED/ dedicated ffe.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn,v-ixpp+1-420pp [paginated] includes contents list/table,acknowledgements,a foreword,2 chapters ('Shoreham' & 'Reading'),nearly 100 descriptions, illustrated by drawings,photographs and tables of dimensions,weights, specifications,performances of every design whether built or merely projected, produced by the firm,Miles Aircraft Ltd.: profuse contemporary b/w aeroplane photographs,diagrams/plans etc.,throughout the text and the book,appendices (I-XIII - five of which are illustrated).Plus [unpaginated] half-title,b/w photographic frntis,title page,a dedication,and 2pp blanks at rear. 'Miles Aircraft since 1925' tells the story of a company founded by two brothers with the help of a handful of friends and enthusiasts.Starting with a single Avro 504K giving five shilling joyrides,they built up an organisation which,over the next twenty years,built some 7,000 aeroplanes.Throughout this period the whole firm was characterised by enthusiasm and drive which stemmed initially from F. G. Miles and resulted in a prodigious number of designs and projects,many of which were built but some of which never saw the light of day.One,for instance,was a contender for the Brabazon I contract for the first civil transport capable of operating a regular non-stop service between London and New York in both directions.Another was the design of what should of been the world's first supersonic aeroplane which, when nearing completion,was summarily cancelled. Owing to the successes in the King's Cup and other air races,the name of Miles is usually associated with light aeroplanes, but actually about 6,000 of the 7,000 aeroplanes built were of 700 hp or over. The first chapter,entitled 'Shoreham', describes the early 'barnstorming' days when the little band of enthusiasts eked out a precarious existence,never doubting for a moment that they would ultimately succeed in becoming designers and manufacturers in their own right.The second chapter,entitled 'Reading', describes the fifteen years during which the firm grew from a mere handful of men to an organisation with some 6,000 employees. Thereafter follows a description, illustrated by b/w drawings,b/w photographs and tables of dimensions, weights and performance of every design whether built or merely projected,produced by the firm - nearly 100 in all.Also included are details of numbers of aircraft built,racing successes, contractor's numbers,civil registrations, dates of first flights and,where known,the ultimate fate of the individual aircraft. The author has been associated with the building of Miles aircraft since the early days at Shoreham. Over forty years ago (then 1970) he was privileged to be admitted to that small band of enthusiasts who,under the inspiring leadership of F.G. Miles,were operating an Avro 504K,giving five-shilling joyrides,always with the ultimate object of learning to design and build aeroplanes.His job was to swing the propeller,take the money,hang on to the wingtip when taxi-ing and,between flights, to teach F.G. Miles mathematics.Many years later,when George Miles was appointed technical director and chief designer of Miles Aircraft Ltd.,he became his personal assistant. An unusual,intriguing association item, and uncommon - particularly with association signatures/dedications. Whilst the number of authoritative books about Miles aircraft is limited,this title /edn is much recommended,and is very highly sought after - even more so,with the company founder's dedications to one of it's important employees. Since April 2013,and again in March 2015, and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering its prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered its qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the weight/value of this item,for correct, insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn.
Triple SIGNED+dedicated.

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