Photograph:
Martinsyde S.1 serial 2831 photographed in 1914 (RAE-O599)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Single-seat biplane scout
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Gnome rotary engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
- Length: 6.40 m (21 ft)
- Height: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 26.01 m² (280 sq ft)
- Max speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
- Cruising speed at 3,048 m (10,000 ft): 140 km/h (87 mph)
- Time to 3,048 m (10,000 ft): 19 mins
- Time to1,981 m (6,500 ft): 10 mins
- Ceiling: 4,267 m (14,000 ft)
- Endurance: 5 1/2 hr
- Empty weight: 798 kg (1,759 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,100 kg (2,424 lb)
Armament:
One 7.69 mm (0.303 in) Lewis machine gun mounted above the centre section
History:
The Martinsyde S.1 was a single-seat biplane scout operated mainly in the European Theatre. Prior to the opening of hostilities in World War I Messrs Martin & Handasyde produced a series of monoplanes but, as competitors were producing biplanes, they decided to produce a biplane scout in the general category of the Bristol Scout and Sopwith Tabloid. Bearing the type number S.1 and powered by a 60 kw (80 hp) Gnome rotary engine it was produced in some numbers, entering service in 1914 with the RFC and some were supplied to Squadrons in France but were not used extensively. Squadrons which operated the S.1 included 1, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 16 RFC. Serials allotted to S.1s included 748, 2451, 2820 to 2829, 2831, 4241, 4243 and 4250.
The S.1 saw service in the Middle East, four examples arriving at Basra, Iraq on 26 August 1915 and formed the equipment of a Half Flight of No 30 Squadron RFC, the Half Flight being manned by Australian Flying Corps pilots, two of the aircraft being serialled IFC-5 and IFC-6. However, it was found the rotary engines did not fare well in the heat and dust of Mesopotomia (later Iraq). On 16 September one carried out a reconnaissance of the Turkish positions at Es Sinn and, on the basis of this, battle instructions were formulated which lead to the capture of Kut, Iraq on 29 September 1915.
On 23 September the two survivors were sent to Ali Gharbi, Iraq and later moved to Aziziya, Libya where a reconnaissance of Baghdad, Iraq was made by AFC pilot Captain H A Petre. On 21 November one (believed to be IFC-6) was shot down and the pilot, Major Reilly, was captured. The last of the S.1s was hit by anti-aircraft fire the next day (believed to be IFC-8 – ex 4243) and was lost. It seems IFC-9 (ex 4250) was abandoned at Kut in April 1916 when the town surrendered. The type on the Western Front was soon withdrawn and survived with training units at the School of Instruction at Reading in Berkshire, UK.