F.G and and George Miles conceived the idea of a new low cost military jet trainer in 1953, when still working on conversion of the M.77 Sparrowjet.

In designing the M.100 the two brothers and their small team set out to produce an aircraft to do the same job as the Jet Provost for ab initio and flying instruction, but in a generally smaller design, to minimise acquisition and operatings costs. 

With its accent on economy, the M.100 was designed round a single Marboré IIA turbojet of only 880lb thrust for take-off, or little more than half the output of the initial Jet Provost's 1640lb Viper ASV.5.

With about half the take-off weight of the Jet Provost T.3, however, the Student was not too far off in its overall performance. Maximum level speeds were just under 300 mph and 330 mph, respectively.

It was May 14, 1957 that the prototype, wearing the B conditions marking G-35-4, made its first flight in hand of George Miles, its chief designer, at Shoreham.

An uneventful although comprehensive flight development programme over the next few months, motsly by F.G. Miles Ltd test pilot ex-Sqn Ldr Duncan McIntosh, necessited non significant changes, and allowed the Student's inclusion in the Farnborough programme in September 1957.

Ventral intake evolution

One of the main design features was the NACA-type flush intake above the wing centre-section for the Marboré centrifugal turbojet (for wich Blackburn had a production licence).

This intake's location and shape minimised the possibilities of foreign object ingestion on the ground and in the air, at the expense of some loss in installed thrust. It certainly appeared to work well enough in most flight conditions.

However, to prevent overspill at high angles of attack,  fences had been added each side after the first flight, to prevent overspill at high angles of attack. 

Characteristics

Dimensions

Weights and loadings

Performances ( at 3100 lb)