P.Lewis The British Fighter since 1912 (Putnam)

A two-bay biplane of normal appearance and construction, the F.1 had little to recommend it in its original form but Martinsyde made another effort at producing a two-seat fighter reconnaissance machine when they completed their F.2 biplane in May, 1917. A 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine gave it a top speed at ground level of 120 m.p.h., the F.2 being armed with a single Vickers gun for the pilot and a Scarff-mounted Lewis for the gunner. Although a competent enough design in most respects, the indifferent view for the pilot told against the F.2 and it stood little chance of filling the place occupied by the competitive Bristol F.2B.

F.Mason The British Fighter since 1912 (Putnam)

Martinsyde F.2

   The Martinsyde F.2 was produced almost simultaneously with the F.1, but was designed under the direction of E Bouillon, newly appointed chief designer of the company. Owing some obvious family resemblance to the previous Martinsyde fighters, the F.2 diverged from the widely influential Bristol F.2 Fighter in being a single-bay biplane and with the lower wing close up to the fuselage - although the rear spar was not directly attached to the lower longerons.
   Unfortunately the aircraft’s future was compromised from the start by the choice of a 200hp Hispano-Suiza engine, which would have had to be replaced in the event of a production order. The wings were well staggered and the top wing, unlike the F.1, was located well above the fuselage, and this time the pilot sat forward of the observer/gunner. However, when the aircraft underwent its trials in May 1917, it was criticised on account of the view from the pilot’s cockpit, and in order to rectify this small cutouts were made in the side coamings in the front of the cockpit.
   The dominance of the Bristol Fighter, sealed the fate of the Martinsyde F.2 which otherwise returned a fairly creditable performance. At least its conventional armament of a synchronized Vickers gun and a Scarff ring-mounted Lewis evoked no adverse comments.


   Type: Single-engine, two-seat, single-bay biplane reconnaissance fighter.
   Manufacturer: Martinsyde Ltd, Brooklands, Surrey.
   Powerplant: One 200hp Hispano-Suiza engine driving two-blade propeller.
   Dimensions: Span: 32ft 0in; length, 25ft 0in; height, 8ft 2in; wing area, 334 sq ft.
   Weights: Tare, 1,547lb; all-up, 2,355lb.
   Performance: Max speed, 120 mph at sea level; climb to 10,000ft, 13 min 30 sec; service ceiling, 17,000ft; endurance, 2 1/2 hr.
   Armament: One synchronized 0.303in Vickers machine gun mounted on nose, forward of pilot’s cockpit and to port of aircraft’s centreline, and one Lewis gun with Scarff ring on rear cockpit.
   Prototype: Believed one only. (Assumed to have flown in May 1917 at Brooklands). No production.

W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

MARTINSYDE F.2 UK

   Of more modern concept that the F.1, the F.2 two-seat fighter was, like its predecessors, of wooden construction with fabric skinning, apart from the sides and top decking of the fuselage which were plywood covered. Designed and built while the F.1 was under construction, the F.2 underwent official testing two months prior to its predecessor, in May 1917. The F.2 was powered by a 200 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bd eight-cylinder water-cooled engine and carried an armament of one fixed and synchronised 0.303-in (7,7-mm) Vickers gun and one Lewis gun on a Scarff ring. Shortcomings revealed during official trials ruled out a production order, and the prototype was utilised as a test-bed for the then-new Sunbeam Arab engine.

Max speed, 120 mph (193 km/h) at sea level.
Time to 10,000 ft (3 050 m), 13.5 min.
Endurance, 2.5 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,547 lb (702 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,355 lb (1 068 kg).
Span, 32 ft 0 in (9,75 m).
Length, 25 ft 0 in (7,62 m).
Height, 8 ft 2 in (2,49 m).
Wing area, 334 sq ft (31,03 m2).

J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)

Martinsyde F.2

  THE second Martinsyde two-seater of the F series was a fighter-reconnaissance machine of compact design and purposeful appearance. It was a single-bay biplane with the same overall dimensions as the Martinsyde R.G. fighter, and had quite a good performance. It was tested in May, 1917.
  The pilot’s and observer’s cockpits were situated close together, but the pilot’s view from his position under the centre-section was very limited, and was adversely criticised in the official report on the aircraft. The F.2 was structurally conventional, and emergency dual control was provided in the rear cockpit.
  The aircraft’s greatest drawback was the poor outlook from the pilot’s cockpit; but apart from that the Martinsyde machine arrived at a time when the Bristol Fighter was proving itself to be highly successful and was in large-scale production. A further point which minimised the F.2’s chances of being built in quantity was its use of the 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine, which at that time was in great demand for the S.E.5a.


SPECIFICATION
  Manufacturers: Martinsyde, Ltd., Brooklands, Byfleet.
  Power: 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza.
  Dimensions: Span: upper 32 ft, lower 30 ft. Length: 25 ft. Height: 8 ft 2 in. Chord: 6 ft. Gap: 5 ft 3 in. Stagger: 2 ft. Dihedral: 2°. Incidence: 2° 30'. Tyres: 700 X 100 mm. Airscrew diameter: 9 ft 2 1/2 in.
  Areas: Wings: 334 sq ft. Ailerons: total 48 sq ft. Tailplane: 24 sq ft. Elevators: 19 sq ft. Fin: 4-25 sq ft. Rudder: . 9-75 sq ft.
  Weights and Performance: No. of Trial Report: M.98. Date of Trial Report: May, 1917. Type of airscrew used on trial: Lang, Series No. 3290. Weight empty: 1,547 lb. Military load: 185 lb. Crew: 360 lb. Fuel and oil: 263 lb. Loaded: 2,355 lb. Maximum speed at ground level: 120 m.p.h.; at 10,000 ft: 114 m.p.h.; at 15,000 ft: 107 m.p.h. Climb to 1,000 ft: 1 min; to 6,500 ft: 7 min 42 sec; to 10,000 ft: 13 min 30 sec; to 12,000 ft: 17 min 42 sec; to 14,000 ft: 23 min; to 15,000 ft: 26 min 18 sec; to 16,000 ft: 30 min 30 sec. Service ceiling: 17,000 ft. Endurance: 2 1/2 hours.
  Tankage: Petrol: 33 gallons. Oil: 3 1/4 gallons.
  Armament: One fixed and synchronised forward-firing Vickers machine-gun mounted in front of pilot’s cockpit to port of centre; one Lewis machine-gun on Scarff ring-mounting on rear cockpit.

H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)

F.2. An all-round improvement on the F.1, the F.2 was more or less contemporary and had a normal armament. A fixed Vickers gun lay externally to port, and the gunner had a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring-mounting.