Martinsyde F4 Buzzard

Regulus · 6 February 2002, 12:06 PM

I was wondering if this plane still saw any action at the end of WW I. I know only 60 were delivered by the end of the war.
There also seems to be discussion on the top speed of this plane. Some sources say 208 km others around 230 km/h. Anyone having an idea what is correct. If it was 230 than this should have been the fastest or of the fastest planes of WW I ! Even 208 km/h was not bad at all !

VBR from Regulus

Droops · 6 February 2002, 02:28 PM

"British Aeroplanes 1914-1918" by J.M. Bruce states that no F.4's reached the squadrons before the Armistice. Also, the original prototype was tested in June of 1918, and a second prototype two months later.

The book gives a maximum speed at 15,000 feet for three aircraft: The first prototype, a second prototype with modified pistons, and the production model. The figures, in m.p.h., are 136.5, 139.5, and 132.5 respectively. The last speed is the only recorded speed for the production model in this book.

VBR,

John

9 February 2002, 01:45 AM

The Buzzard should have been chosen as the RAF's standard fighter for 1919, IMO - it was the fastest single-seater of its time and, like all Martin and Handasyde's products, superbly built. Which is probably why one of the post-war Finnish ones still exists to remind us all of the missed opportunity to dispense with the smelly, oily rotaries that powered the Snipe . . .

There's a Windsock Datafile devoted to the F.4: No.76, by J.M. Bruce. ISBN is 1-902207-17-3.

Cheers!

(8:¬)}

Simba.

EARTHLING · 10 February 2002, 03:18 AM

I don't think the F4 was faster than the F3 which was fitted with the Rolls Royce Falcon engine 275 HP. This didn't go into production because of the shortage of engines. The F4 had the Hispano Suiza 300 hp but the performance was similar.
Jane's all the Worlds Aircraft brackets them together.
WE Johns says that he witnessed a mock combat with a captured Fokker DV11 and the Martinsyde F3 and the DV11 was adjudged the winner. The pilots changed mounts but the result was the same.
He went on to say that the F3 had a reputed top speed of 145 MPH and the Fokker nothing like that. So much for manoeuvrability.
F4 were used in Russia in 1919 but I don't know how they fared.
VBR
Peter S

jado · 10 February 2002, 04:47 AM

Regulus:

"The F3 did well in tests and was ordered into production; but there was such a shortage of Falcon engines that it was decided to fit the 300h.p. Hispano-Suiza. *Modifications were necccessary, and the redesigned aeroplane was named the F4. *Four of the six F3's ordered went to Home Defence units in 1918; engine shutters were added to the radiators of the machines with Falcon III engines.

The dimensions of the F4 varied slightly from those of the F3, but the most obvious difference was the position of the cockpit, which was moved farther aft to improve the pilots view. *The type was named the Buzzard; two versions were manufactured, the Mark I or standard model and the Mark Ia, a long-range fighter probably intended for escort duty with the day bombers of the

Independent Force. *In addition to the extensive British building programme,1,500 Buzzards were to have been constructed in the USA. *When the war finished, however, less than fifty machines had been delivered to the R.A.F., and no squadron was ever equipped with the type.

The Sopwith Snipe, a slower type, had been chosen as the standard British post-war fighter, so there was no place for the Buzzard in the R.A.F. *One went to Japan, and a few were used by Spain and by the Irish Air Corp. *After the closing down of the Martinsyde firm, a number of Buzzards were purchased by the Aircraft Disposals Company. *Some of these machines went to Finland in 1924, and the type was still in use there as late as 1935 as a gunnery trainer.

A variety of engines were installed in privately owned Buzzards; they include the Rolls-Royce Falcon III, the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial, and the 230h.p. Siddeley Puma. *One machine was fitted with floats.".

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Lambertons Fighter Aircraft pg 52

Lambertons also shows the F4 Mark I with a top speed of 140Mph. - 138 at 10,000 - 132.5 at 15,000

It would seem that the Buzzard may have been a casualty of too many aircraft already in production.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Joe