Martinsyde S.1

The Martinsyde Scout 1 was a British biplane aircraft of the early part of the First World War built by Martinsyde Limited.

Design and development

It was a single-seat biplane with a Gnome engine in tractor configuration.

Operational service

Sixty of the S.1 were built and these were used for about 6 months on the Western Front by the Royal Flying Corps before it was relegated to training. Although initially intended for use in Home Defence operating from the UK, it was found to be inadequate for that too.

Operators

 Australia

• Australian Flying Corps
  • Mesopotamian Half Flight

 United Kingdom

• Royal Flying Corps
  • No. 1 Squadron RFC
  • No. 2 Squadron RFC
  • No. 4 Squadron RFC
  • No. 5 Squadron RFC
  • No. 6 Squadron RFC
  • No. 9 Squadron RFC
  • No. 10 Squadron RFC
  • No. 12 Squadron RFC
  • No. 14 Squadron RFC
  • No. 16 Squadron RFC
  • No. 18 Squadron RFC
  • No. 19 Squadron RFC
  • No. 20 Squadron RFC
  • No. 22 Squadron RFC
  • No. 23 Squadron RFC
  • No. 24 Squadron RFC
  • No. 25 Squadron RFC
  • No. 30 Squadron RFC

Specification

Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
• Wingspan: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
• Wing area: 280 ft² (26.01 m²)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary piston, 80 hp (60 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 87 mph (140 km/h)

Armament

• Forward firing 0.303in (7.7mm) Lewis machine gun

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
  

References

• Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1965.