Cheap airworthy (?) Miles Gemini for sale

Gemini Bunkered.

This Thread reminds me of something from my youth.In about 1954/5 a Gemini made a forced landing on the Bushey and Oxhey golf course,it looked like a reasonable landing until he ended up in a Bunker.I think it might have been an Elstree resident,possibly Derby Aviation.I’m afraid my memory fails me at this point.
Colin.

There are definate issues with Cirrus Minor cases cracking. As for the airframe very few of them have been completely rebuilt to the level of G-AISD .

Possible engine issues aside, how does the type’s wooden airframe hold up?

Given the choice between a Burmese Spitfire and this Gemini I know which one I would choose………!!!

Hear, hear……………..but then, the list of those I’d chose in preference to a ‘Burmese Spitfire’ would not be short!

Off to buy a Lottery ticket…!

Very fond of Geminis, having flown in ‘KKH a couple of times many years ago…

No issues with her Cirrus Minors, that I’m aware of! So glad that Sir John Allison is looking after her so well.

A survivor…..

This Gemini is certainly a survivor. It spent the first five years of its life in Kenya with Noon & Pearce Air Charter registered as VP-KDH. http://www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1035930. It was the first of six they operated before they moved on to the Beech Bonanza.
Think it is likely the photograph was taken when the aircraft returned to the U.K. Seem to recall it also spent some time in the Congo whilst it was Belgian registered.

Certainly hope someone buys it and continues to cherish it. Given the choice between a Burmese Spitfire and this Gemini I know which one I would choose………!!!

Planemike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToV62V5XaGE

Moggy[/QUOTE]

Thanks Moggy…that brought back some serious memory of my first flight ever, with my Dad in the early ’50’s. That was in a Gemini operating out of the old grass, Portsmouth airport. I was aged 10, and the pilot was Dick Wilkins, burser of Churchers College, Petersfield.
I sat in the back with my dad in the front right hand seat. We flew over Butser hill and towards the College grounds at about 1500ft. As we did a tight turn over the playing fields below, there was a loud ‘crack’, and a mighty wind blast…the stbd. up and over access door broke open, and tore away from the aircraft. It all happened so quickly, that it was only a long time after, I realised that had we not been in a tight turn, the door could easily have taken the tail off, and ……..splat.
It was a cold and urgent return to Portsmouth, and my dad’s ashen face told its own story. The offending door landed on a local playing field, where thankfully, no one was hurt.
Still didn’t stop me taking up a what was to be, a very eventfull and happy flying career.

Thanks for the interesting info!

Didn’t think about possible engine problems; if I’m not mistaken it’s the same engine that powers the Danish S.A.I. KZ-III and I think half of the surviving examples are not airworthy due to the engine problems. I seem to recall having heard that the engine block has a tendency to crack?

If I recall correctly, at least one KZ-III has been modified to take a Czech Walter engine of the same or similar dimensions and power output. Would that not be an option?

You may well enjoy this video of a sister ship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToV62V5XaGE

I did 🙂

Moggy

Am quite happy sticking with the Minors for ‘KHW. Last flew ‘KHP in 2003 and ‘HHI in 2006 and found them quite satisfactory. I first flew behind a Cirrus Minor in 1955 on my first dual crosscountry in J1N ‘ATS and have been fiddling with the breed since then. No offence meant David, but, “They are British you know.” Just love ’em to bits.
Battle do you wish to sell/trade the Minor Mag as I have no spare for mine in the Moth Minor.

Seems to have been airworthy in 2011 at least

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Miles-M-65-Gemini/1920361/L/

Moggy

Maybe go Mk. 2 and install a pair of 125 hp Continentals instead?

Probably busy getting two Gipsy 145’s ready for his!

Where’s Galdri?

Moggy

Stan -my friend operated this machine for a good while and another has another example in the air. It’s irrelevant how many Cirrus Minors I have owned -operated or had in my shed -both owners have given me more than enough insight into the breed to understand that the best thing to do with a Gemini is to put two Gipsy 145hp motors on it in pretty much the same way they did in the late 1940’s .

Hi Stan how rare are the gipsy minors , picked up a magneto for one last weekend , bought it because it looked odd , without knowing what it fitted.

cheers dave

David. How many Cirrus Minors do you have? How many have you operated? How many have you overhauled? I have six serviceable Minors for my Gemini, a goodly holding of spares and know of at least two other caches of spares. Operated properly , the Cirrus is a good little engine and requires no more maintenance than the dear old Gipsy Major. The Gipsy Minor,- now that’s another story, as mine has caused me more trouble as one engine, in the last 40 odd years that I have had it than all the other Cirrus Minors and Gipsy majors put together. My Gemini, ex G-AKHW, is progressing slowly as time, other projects and customers permit with the rear fuselage the next thing to attack. At the asking price the Gemini is indeed a bargain and if some Forumite ( or other) acquires it and needs parts or assistance, I will be only too happy to help.
Miles Forever!!!!!

She was rebuilt at Exeter by John Homewood in the mid eighties -unfortunately the Cirrus Minor engine is the type’s achilles heel.

I looked at this Gemini two years ago, she had not flown for quite a while. She was purchased with part of the proceeds from the sale of Proctor KEX and seems to have been beset with engine reliability issues since her arrival in Sweden. It would be nice to see her back home and at that price seemingly good value for money. That said I have no idea of the condition of her structure, you could easily spend twice that amount or more rebuilding her engines to reliable operation let alone any airframe rebuilding! I wish the new owner good luck!

Cirrus Minor engined Gemini’s are very good way of getting rid of money fast!
Engine spares are sparse and the owners that keep these aircraft flying are doing the enthusiasts that enjoy seeing them a real favour!