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Remembering Rex Coates
ear Brian, I wish to add my tribute to Rex Coates (pictured). Rex’s expertise covered the whole speed envelope of aviation, rebuilding everything from a Piper Cub to a Mach 2 Supersonic Airliner. His first love was his family, followed by his interest in Miles Aircraft. Rex owned Miles Monarch G-AFLW, which I had photographed at a White Waltham air display in 1985, without realising it had possibly just made its final flight after a heavy landing. He also owned the Messenger and King’s Cup winner G-AKBO (restored by the late David Fenton), and a Miles M.18 on display at the East Fortune Museum. Coming back from France, his Monarch suffered a bird strike, with a seagull embedded in the leading edge of the plywood leading edge. Rex confided in me that he never wanted an office job, he wanted to be with the aircraft and work with his hands, and this is why he worked in the aircraft maintenance industry. Therefore, due to his long service to society and aviation, Rex was part of the country’s backbone and team of unsung heroes that made this country great. I was first acquainted with Rex, on acquiring Miles M38 Messenger G-AJOE in 2001, and we regularly met up at the Great Vintage Flying Weekend. As a newcomer to Miles aircraft, I
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soon learned there are very few people who have any experience today of Miles aircraft, or the 155bhp Blackburn Cirrus. Rex was a revelation, a very friendly and approachable enthusiast who would always help anyone. Once, in May 2005, flying from Hamburg to the Great Vintage Flying Weekend in stormy weather, the engine seized over
Goes, in North Holland. In the ensuing downwind landing, I hit an unseen dyke channel and the wings and undercarriage were wiped off. Sadly, the aircraft was a total write-off, but I bought the aircraft from the insurers for €3,000. The wreck ended up at Classic Aero Services in France with Patrick Siegwald, and a CAA Engineer oversaw all the work. Over a period of several years, I worked with both to get the aeroplane rebuilt but without Rex, a rebuild would not have been an option. The wing spars were spliced at 1:30 ratio, and the aircraft finally ready. I then flew the aeroplane to PPS at Booker where Rex subsequently certified the aircraft. The picture (below) shows G-AJOE after its first post-rebuild flight from White Waltham to Henstridge. Rex visited me several times in Hamburg and would regularly maintain and sign-off G-AJOE. With the passing of Rex, the world and the LAA now loses an expert engineer and specialist for Miles aircraft. Rex lived a full and interesting life and maintained an interest in Miles right up to the end. My only regret is that due to pressures of life, and Covid-19 restrictions, the flight with him in my Witney Straight never took place. The only consolation for me, is that he was so deservedly awarded the RAeC ‘Old and Bold’ trophy in 2019 at the RAF Club, but he will be sorely missed in Miles aircraft circles – and
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