| Information | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Martinsyde |
| First flight: | 1918 |
| Propulsion: | Hispano-Suiza 8Fb piston engine |
| Withdrawn: | 1938 |
| Number built: | 370 |
The F.4 Buzzard was based on the earlier F.3 which had a superb performance but the Rolls Royce Falcon engines it needed were all earmarked for the Bristol F.2. The F.4 was instead powered by a Hispano-Suiza engine but again was fast and manoeuvrable.
Large numbers were ordered for the Royal Air Force and also for export to the French and United States. Unfortunately for Martinsyde the end of the war meant most of these orders were cancelled. Instead of the thousands expected only around 370 were built instead. No fighters entered RAF service, who instead opted for the Sopwith Snipe as their postwar fighter though some were sold to other airforces including Ireland and Spain [2]. Two were used by the RAF for carrying despatches between London and Paris in 1919 during the peace conference.
Martinsyde bought back many aircraft for resale. Two seater (the F.6 which also had revised wings and different engines) and floatplane versions were built but it wasn't enough to prevent Martinsyde going bankrupt in 1922. Some continued to be used for many years, both in overseas air forces and for civil owners often as racing aircraft. The last Buzzards to be used are thought to have been a small number in Latvia in 1938.
[1] "The King's Cup Race", Flight Magazine, September 7 1922 p. 514
[2] Martin J.H. Taylor, Warplanes of the world 1918-1939 (Ian Allan, 1981) p. 178
Large numbers were ordered for the Royal Air Force and also for export to the French and United States. Unfortunately for Martinsyde the end of the war meant most of these orders were cancelled. Instead of the thousands expected only around 370 were built instead. No fighters entered RAF service, who instead opted for the Sopwith Snipe as their postwar fighter though some were sold to other airforces including Ireland and Spain [2]. Two were used by the RAF for carrying despatches between London and Paris in 1919 during the peace conference.
Martinsyde bought back many aircraft for resale. Two seater (the F.6 which also had revised wings and different engines) and floatplane versions were built but it wasn't enough to prevent Martinsyde going bankrupt in 1922. Some continued to be used for many years, both in overseas air forces and for civil owners often as racing aircraft. The last Buzzards to be used are thought to have been a small number in Latvia in 1938.
 |
| Martinsyde F.6 [1] |
[1] "The King's Cup Race", Flight Magazine, September 7 1922 p. 514
[2] Martin J.H. Taylor, Warplanes of the world 1918-1939 (Ian Allan, 1981) p. 178
