It was generally agreed that elementary flying training should be given in two-seat side-by-side cabin aircraft, not only because of the confidence given to the pupil by the instructor being at his side, but because the whole instructional routine would be simplified.
With these desirable objectives in view, since 1936 the Miles organisation advocated the use of such an arrangement, and carried their ideas into effect in the Whitney Straight and Monarch civilian types with great success.
The ideal form was achieved with the M.28, a machine which holds the distinction of being the first light aeroplane type to be designed and built during the war years, although the original projecting was done in 1939. Intended primarily for two seat initial flying training duties, it can also be used as a three-seat navigational and radio trainer, or as a four seat communication type, and requires little or no adaptation to become a club machine, air-taxi or private-owner aeroplane on the return of peace.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the M.28 is that with only 140 hp it can carry four people at 160 mph, for 500 miles with a fuel consumption of 20 mpg. This remarkable performance is combined with a low landing speed, achieved by the use of a new type of retractable auxiliary aerofoil flaps devised by Mr. George Miles who, in addition to designing the M.28, carried out all the initial flight tests himself.