The Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard was developed as a powerful and fast biplane fighter for the Royal Air Force, but the end of the First World War led to the abandonment of large-scale production.
Fewer than 400 were eventually produced, with many exported.
Of particular note was the Buzzard’s high speed, being one of the fastest aircraft developed during World War I.
In 1917, George Handasyde of Martinsyde designed a single-seat biplane fighter powered by a Rolls-Royce Falcon V-12 engine, the Martinsyde F.3, with a single prototype being built as a private venture without an official order and had flown at Brooklands aerodrome by October 1917.
Six being ordered in 1917, with the first flying in November that year.
Its performance during testing was impressive, demonstrating a maximum speed of 142 mph (229 km/h), and was described in an official report as “a great advance on all existing fighting scouts”, resulting in an order for six pre-production aircraft and 150 production fighters being placed late in 1917.
It soon became clear, however, that all Falcon production was required to power Bristol F.2 Fighters, so use of the Falcon for the F.3 would be problematical.
To solve this problem, Martinsyde designed a new fighter based on the F.3 but powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 engine, the F.4 Buzzard.
The Buzzard, like the F.3, was a single-bay tractor biplane powered by a water-cooled engine.
It had new lower wings compared with the F.3, and the pilot’s cockpit was positioned further aft, but otherwise the two aircraft were similar.
The prototype F.4 was tested in June 1918, and again demonstrated excellent performance, being easy to fly and manoeuvrable as well as very fast for the time.
Large orders followed, with 1,450 ordered from Martinsyde, Boulton & Paul Ltd, Hooper & Co and the Standard Motor Company.
It was planned to equip the French Aéronautique Militaire as well as the British Royal Air Force, and production of a further 1,500 aircraft in the United States of America was planned.
Deliveries to the RAF had just started when the Armistice between the Allies and Germany was signed.
Martinsyde was instructed to only complete those aircraft which were part built, while all other orders were cancelled.
The Buzzard was not adopted as a fighter by the post war RAF, the cheaper Sopwith Snipe being preferred despite its lower performance.
Martinsyde continued development of the Buzzard, buying back many of the surplus aircraft from the RAF, and producing two-seat tourers and floatplanes.
After the bankruptcy of Martinsyde in 1922, these aircraft were obtained by the Aircraft Disposal Company which continued to develop and sell F.4 variants for several years.
Variants
F.3
Single-seat fighter biplane.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Falcon.
Seven built.
F.4 Buzzard
Single-seat fighter biplane.
Powered by 300 hp (220 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 engine.
Main production type.
F.4 Buzzard 1a
Long range escort fighter for Independent Air Force; three built.
F.4A
Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat touring aircraft.
Type A.Mk I
Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat long-range aircraft.
Larger two-bay wings, powered by Rolls-Royce Falcon engines.
Type AS.Mk I
This version of the Type A.Mk I was fitted with float landing gear.
Type A.Mk II
Four-passenger cabin version of A Mk.I.
Powered by Hispano-Suiza or Falcon engine.
F.6
Surplus F.4 Buzzards converted into two-seat aircraft, revised wing and landing gear.
A.D.C. 1
Single-seat fighter version, powered by a 395 hp (295 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial piston engine.
The aircraft was developed by the Aircraft Disposal Company.
One prototype, eight production aircraft were exported to Latvia.
Nimbus Martinsyde
One aircraft was converted by A.D.C. and fitted with a 300 hp (220 kW) ADC Nimbus engine.
A.V. 1
One aircraft built for the engine designer Amherst Villiers.
Raymor
A single A.Mk 1 modified for a transatlantic flight attempt, powered by a 285 hp (213 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon III.
Specifications
(F.4 Buzzard)
Crew
1
Length
25 ft 5.6 in (7.76 m)
Wingspan
32 ft 9.4 in (9.99 m)
Height
8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Wing area
320 sq ft (29.7 m2)
Empty weight
1,811 lb (823 kg)
Gross weight
2,398 lb (1,090 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline engine, 300 hp (224 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed
146 mph (235 km/h, 127 kn) at sea level
132.5 mph (115 knots, 213 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
