Martinsyde S.1

S.1
Role	Single-seat scout
Manufacturer	Martin-Handasyde
Introduction	1914
Primary user	Royal Flying Corps
Number built	60

The Martin-Handasyde Scout 1 was a British biplane aircraft of the early part of the First World War built by Martin-Handasyde Limited. It was nick-named "Elephant" No, the Elephant was the nickname for the later Martinsyde G100 and G102 which were large, cumbersome, single seat multi-purpose scout/reconnaissance/bomber, used in France and Mesopotamia.

Design and development

It was a single-seat biplane with a Gnome engine in tractor configuration.

Operational service

Sixty of the S.1 were built and these were used for about 6 months on the Western Front by the Royal Flying Corps before it was relegated to training. Although initially intended for use in Home Defence operating from the UK, it was found to be inadequate for that too. It was reported to be unstable, and it was the aircraft Captain Louis Strange was flying in a combat with a German two-seater, when one of the oddest incidents of WW1 took place. He was changing a drum on his overhead Lewis gun, when the aircraft turned over - and he fell out. However, he held on with one hand to the spade grip of the gun, and somehow managed to hook one leg into the cockpit, then the other. The plane righted itself, and he fell back in, breaking the seat! The German crew, convinced they saw their opponent fall out, claimed a kill, and were (so it was said by the ace, Bruno Loerzer, who was based in the area), ribbed afterwards, when no wreckage was found. ('The Friendless Sky' - A McKee)

Operators

Australia

• Australian Flying Corps
  • Mesopotamian Half Flight

United Kingdom

• Royal Flying Corps
  • No. 1 Squadron RFC
  • No. 2 Squadron RFC
  • No. 4 Squadron RFC
  • No. 5 Squadron RFC
  • No. 6 Squadron RFC
  • No. 9 Squadron RFC
  • No. 10 Squadron RFC
  • No. 12 Squadron RFC
  • No. 14 Squadron RFC
  • No. 16 Squadron RFC
  • No. 18 Squadron RFC
  • No. 19 Squadron RFC
  • No. 20 Squadron RFC
  • No. 22 Squadron RFC
  • No. 23 Squadron RFC
  • No. 24 Squadron RFC
  • No. 25 Squadron RFC
  • No. 30 Squadron RFC

Specification

Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
• Wingspan: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
• Height: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
• Wing area: 280 ft² (26.01 m²)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary piston, 80 hp (60 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 87 mph (140 km/h)

Armament

• Forward firing 0.303in (7.7mm) Lewis machine gun

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
• Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume One Fighters. London: Macdonald, 1965.
• Flight magazine