The first prototype Miles Marathon, first flown on 19 May 1946 wearing Miles test registration U-10. The aircraft was already registered as G-AGPD almost a year earlier on 5 June 1945; a peculiar British habit. This registration was not applied until July or August 1946. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Built as a Marathon Mk.1, registered 29 December 1950. One of seven of the type earmarked for BEA's island routes, for which it was allotted the class name 'MacLeod' but the order was cancelled due to the high operating costs. To WAAC as VR-NAO 26 September 1952, when it was upgraded to a Mk.1A. Restored to Balfour Marine Engineering as G-AMGX 28 April 1955. It was fitted out with juke boxes for a proposed sales tour of the USA in August 1955, which was aborted and the aircraft languished at Southend until scrapped in 1962. Cancelled 28 November 1962 as PWFU.

Ex G-AMHV, VR-NAT (WAAC), XJ831 (RAE Farnborough), G-AMHV. To CF-NUH March 1961.

G-ALUB undertook a long sales tour to New Zealand in the hope National Airways Corp would buy. Hopes were dashed when NAC declared the aircraft was not satisfactory for its purposes. G-ALUB was transferred to the RAF in 1951. Photo from: Evening Post/Alexander Turnbull Library

Built in 1950. Registered to Derby Aviation in 1955 and cancelled as destroyed in February 1964. It has 'DA' plus the registration last two letters 'GW' on the nose in the style of BEA.

Scanned from a print. Photo by my late Father, Jack Harrison

The second prototype of the Miles Marathon over The Needles, off the Isle of Wight. Formerly G-AILH. Continuing as the Handley Page Marathon, the 20-passenger airliner type was unsuccessful and used mostly by the RAF as a navigation trainer.

Note the family having a picnic - happy days.

Ex XA269/P 2ANS scrapped by Miles Feb. 1962

The four-engine, triple fin, light airliner originated as the Miles M.60 Marathon. Built by Handley Page at Reading. "Monsal Dale" served West African Airways as VR-NAR then Derby Aviation (later British Midland) from 10.55 until withdrawal in 10.60.

Marathon 1A designed by Miles Aircraft but built by Handley Page (Reading) at Woodley. Built as G-AMHV and served West African Aws Corp as VR-NAT July 1952 to 1955. Seen when with the Royal Aircraft Establishment wearing their badge on the nose.