Martinsyde Buzzard

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F4 Buzzard
Type Biplane Fighter
Manufacturer Martinsyde
Maiden flight June 1918
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built 333

The Martinsyde F4 Buzzard was developed as a powerful and fast biplane fighter for the Royal Air Force (RAF), but the end of the First World War led to the abandonment of large-scale production. Less than 400 were eventually produced, with many exported. Of particular note was the Buzzard's high speed, being one of the very fastest aircraft developed during WWI[citation needed].

Contents

[edit] Variants

  • F.4 Buzzard : Single-seat fighter biplane.
  • F.4A : Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat touring aircraft.
  • Type A.Mk 1 : Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat long-range aircraft.
  • Type AS.Mk 1 : This version of the Type A.Mk I was fitted withfloat landing gear.
  • Type A.Mk II : Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into four-seat cabin aircraft.
  • F.6 : Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat aircraft.
  • A.D.C. 1 : Single-seat fighter version, powered by a 295-kW (395-hp) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial piston engine. The aircraft was developed by the Aircraft Disposal Company. Eight aircraft were exportrd to Latvia.
  • A.V. 1 : One aircraft built for the engine designer Armherst Villiers.
  • Nimbus Martinsyde : One aircraft was converted by A.D.C., and fitted with a 224-hp (300-kW) Nimbus engine.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Finland Finland
Flag of Ireland Ireland
  • (One aircraft bought in 1922}
Flag of Japan Japan
  • (one aircraft only)
Flag of Latvia Latvia
  • (eight A.D.C. 1s)
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania
Flag of Poland Poland
  • (One aircraft used 1923-1926 as a personal machine of the Air Force Commander Włodzimierz Zagórski, all painted in red and white stripes)
Flag of Portugal Portugal
Flag of Spain Spain
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

[edit] Specifications (F4 Buzzard)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 26 ft (7.8 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft (10 m)
  • Height: 10.5 ft (3.15 m)
  • Wing area: ft² (29.73 m²)
  • Empty weight: 1,740 lb (776 kg)
  • Loaded weight: lb (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,325 lb (1,038 kg)
  • Powerplant:Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline engine, 305 hp ()

Performance

Armament

[edit] References


[edit] External links

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