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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0639.PDF
JtJNE 17, 1920 The Martinsyde F.2, 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine machine had a surplus lifting capacity of about half a ton. The figures of performance given in the accompanying tables relate to the machine with this extra load on board. Unfortunately no drawings are available showing the general arrangement of " Father," but a fairly good idea may be obtained from the accompanying photograph. The main difference in general arrangement which was noticeable in this machine was the arrangement of the lower plane. Instead of attaching direct to the body, the two halves of the lower plane were carried on short stumps projecting down from the lower longerons, as shown in the photograph. One would imagine that for present-day commercial use this machine- would make a very good mail 'plane, there being ample room in the front cockpit, which is reached through a rectangular opening in the top centre section. This would facilitate the load- ing and unloading of mail bags, etc., while at the same time the speed of the machine—100 m.p.h. at 10,000 ft.—is quite sufficient for modern commercial requirements. The F.2. (1917) This machine, also a two-seater fighter, was an improvement on " Father," because of its increased speed and lighter construction. It was designed and built during the construction of F.i. The engine fitted Was a 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, and the machine carried, in addition to fuel and oil, a load of about £ ton. At the time of the tests the weight of the machine with full load was 2,355 lbs. The machine had a very low landing-speed, got " unstuck " after a very short run, and was very easy to fly, having a great amount of natural stability. The F.3. (1917) We now come to another member of the Martinsyde family, affectionately known at the works as " Mother." This was a righting scout, and went through its tests in November 1917. As the first single-seater in the F. class, it was natural that it should be known as mother. From the table it will be seen that this machine had an extraordinarily good performance, its speed at ground-level being 142 m.p.h., while at an altitude of 16,500 ft. the. speed was still 130.5 m.p.h. The figures for climb are as follows : 6,000 ft. in 3 mins. 35 sees., 10,000 ft. in 6 mins. 45 sees., 15,000 ft. in n mins. 55 sees., and 20,000 ft. in 24! mins. In spite of the exceptional speed of this machine, the landing-speed is only 45 m.p.h. At the same time the machine is very easy to manoeuvre and quick on the controls. It may, perhaps, be mentioned that this machine was described in an official report as " A great advance on all existing fighting scouts." From the illustra- tions it will be seen that the pilot is placed high in relation to the top plane, which arrangement gives The Martinsyde F3, 190 h.p. Rolls-Royce engine 639
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