Miller Tern Explained

The Miller Tern is an American single-seat, high wing glider that was designed by William Terrance Miller and offered as plans for amateur construction.[1] [2]

Design and development

Named for the bird, the Tern was the product of Miller's desire to design a sailplane specifically for homebuilding, providing ease of construction and good performance for its day. The first Tern was completed in 1965 and at least 36 more were completed in the US, Canada and other countries. Plans are no longer available.

The Tern is constructed from a combination of wood and fiberglass. It has a fixed monowheel landing gear, dive brakes and an optional tail-mounted drag chute. The cantilever wing uses a Wortmann 61 series airfoil. The basic Tern has a 511NaN1 wingspan that gives a glide ratio of 34:1 at 580NaN0, while the longer span Tern II, with its 551NaN1 wingspan, has a glide ratio several points higher.

Operational history

In March 2011 there were 14 Terns on the Federal Aviation Administration register, including 4 Tern IIs and one Tern 17M. All Terns are registered in the US as Experimental - Amateur-built[3]

In March 2011 there were two Terns registered with Transport Canada, both amateur-builts.[4]

Variants

Tern
  • Initial version with a 511NaN1 wingspan and a glide ratio of 34:1 at 580NaN0
    Tern II
  • Improved version with a 551NaN1 wingspan, retractable landing gear, trailing edge airbrakes, and a reported 40:1 glide ratio. Gross weight of 852 lbs. Modifications designed and built by John and William Ree, who also collaborated with Miller on the Cherokee RM. First flown in 1968. Destroyed in unrecoverable spin in 1970.[5] [6]
    Tern 17M
  • Version with a 170NaN0 wingspan, one built[7]

    Aircraft on display

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Tern Miller. 27 March 2011. Activate Media. 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405061609/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=366. 5 April 2012.
    2. Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 15. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920
    3. Web site: Make / Model Inquiry Results. 31 March 2011. Federal Aviation Administration. March 2011.
    4. Web site: Canadian Civil Aircraft Register . 31 March 2011 . . March 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042755/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp . 18 July 2011 .
    5. Ree. John. The Screw of a Tern. Soaring. December 1970. 34. 12. 18–19.
    6. Letters to the Editor. Soaring. March 1969. 33. 3. 7.
    7. Web site: Make / Model Inquiry Results. 31 March 2011. Federal Aviation Administration. March 2011.
    8. Web site: Sailplanes in Our Collection . 26 February 2011 . . 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110516142717/http://www.soaringmuseum.org/collection.html . 16 May 2011 .

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