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THE MARTINSYDE FILE

Ray Sanger

The Martinsyde Company was busy developing its monoplanes before the outbreak of the First World War but its first operational aircraft were biplane scouts. These were followed by the G.100, a large single-seat aircraft used for fighting, bombing and reconnaissance and built in some quantity. They saw service in France and the Middle East.

In 1918, production began of the Buzzard, regarded by many as the best single-seat fighter of World War One, which ended just as the type entered service. Post-war, many were sold abroad and equipped units of the Spanish Navy, as well as the air forces of Russia, Finland and Latvia. Smaller numbers went to other countries as far apart as the Irish Free State and Japan.

Martinsyde entered the civil market and sold a number of aircraft to operate in the harsh conditions of Canada and Newfoundland. The company also produced motor-cycles which are still valued by their owners. Handasyde went on to design aircraft for other companies after Martinsyde closed, including ANEC and the Desoutter and British Aircraft companies.

This is a fully documented account of an important British aircraft manufacturer and the pilots who flew their aircraft. It is fully illustrated, with four pages of colour drawings of Martinsydes in many varied colour schemes, with well-drawn plans of each type.

The contents of this very comprehensive book include:

The Martinsyde Company - the Martin and Handasyde partnership, the First World War and expansion, post-

war retrenchment and diversification, the slide into receivership, the Aircraft Disposal Company, Handasyde's subsequent career.

Martin-Handasyde Aircraft up to 1914 - First

machine, second machine, No.3 Monoplane, the Antoinette and Martin-Handasyde designs of 1909 and 1910 compared, 4B Dragon Fly, the fifth design, the

RFC monoplane, the Military Trials Machine, the Military Monoplane, 1913 monoplane,

Hydromonoplane (Waterbus) and variants, 1914 monoplane, Trans-Atlantic monoplane, other pre-war projects.

Martinsydes Go To War - S.1, Two-seater.

The Elephant - G.100 and G.102.

The Buzzard - RG, F.1 and F.2, F.3, F.4 Buzzard, US interest in the F.3 and F.4, other

designs manufactured by Martinsyde.

Post-war Martinsyde Aircraft - F.4, F-4A, F.5 and F.6, Raymor and the Transatlantic Flight attempt, Semiquaver, Type A Mks I/II/AS, England to Australia Race, Aircraft Disposal Company F.4/A.D.C.1/Nimbus-Martinsyde and A.V.1.

Martinsyde Aircraft in Post-war Overseas Service - Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan,

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, United States.

The Motorcycles.

Handasyde Aircraft - Glider, Handasyde H.2 and A.N.E.C.III, Raynham Monoplane, Desoutter I and II, British Klemm and British Aircraft Manufacturing Company Aircraft.

Includes black and white illustrations and photos throughout, a few line/3 view drawings, as well as 24 colour side views.