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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0638.PDF
scout, fitted with water-cooled Beardmore engines. In some instances the engine was a 120 h.p. and in others a 160. The machine, which was affectionately known in the Service as the " Elephant," is really typical of- Martinsyde design, and was supplied to the Government in large quantities. The per- formances was quite out of the ordinary for those days, the speed being 102 m.p.h. at 6,000 ft., and even at 14,000 ft. the speed was still as high as go m.p.h. The climb to 10,000 ft. took 15 minutes only, Which was a performance to be proud of at that time. Although a single-seater, the machine had a large wing area, which enabled her to carry fuel for a 4J hours' flight, and she was one of the few machines which could successfully carry the large JUNE 17, 1920 machine was fitted with a 190 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine. Although retaining the unmistakable Martinsyde appearance, this machine was altered in several respects compared with the " Elephant." For instance, the radiator, which in the G.ioo was placed behind the engine, was in the new machine placed in the nose, car fashion. Also the deck of the fuselage was considerably higher, especially behind the pilot. Two machine-guns were mounted on top of the deck for'ard, and were operated by synchronising gear. The machine passed its official tests at Farnborough in February, 1917- Con- sidering the date—early 1917—her performance was most excellent. At ground level the speed was 130 m.p.h., at 10,000 ft. 122 m.p.h. while at 18,000 ft. The Martinsyde R.G., 190 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine 3 cwt. bombs. It might be mentioned here that " The Elephant " was used with effect against the fortifications of Bagdad and other enemy towns. Like all Martinsyde products, the G.ioo was very strongly built. By way of an instance, it may be recorded that one of them returned safely to its aerodrome with a considerable portion of its centre section destroyed by high-explosives, while on another occasion it is said that the pilot used his machine to ram his opponent. The wing tips and ailerons suffered severely, but the machine returned in safety to the aerodrome. The R.G. (1916) Towards the end of 1916 yet another type was designed and built at the Martinsyde works. This she still did 108 m.p.h. The climb was equally good, 19,000 ft. being reached in 30 mins. 55 sees. The R.G. was used as a fast single-seater fighting scout. The manoeuvrability was excellent, and of innovations, other than those already referred to, may be mentioned the fitting of a trimming tail. The range, it will be seen, was large—585 miles. The Martinsyde F.I. (1917) We now come to the first of the F. series. This machine went through its tests in the summer of 1917. It was known in the works as " Father," being the first of the F. type. It was a two-seater machine, fitted with a 250 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine. The gunner sat in front and- the pilot behind. The wing surface was large, nearly 600 sq. ft., and the The Martinsyde F.I, 250 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine 638
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