![]() Derived from the Elephant via a single-bay experimental variant of the earlier design by A A Fletcher, the R.G. bore a close resemblance to its predecessor and was initially flown late in 1916 with a 190 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon I 12-cylinder water-cooled engine. Armament comprised a fixed 0303-in (7,7-mm) Vickers gun on the port upper longeron, outside the cabane struts, and a Lewis gun on the starboard side of the cockpit. After official trials in February 1917, the R.G. was revised in a number of respects. The cockpit was moved aft and the centre section cut-out was enlarged, the span of the lower wing was reduced, the rear top decking was raised, armament was revised and consisted of two 0303-in (7,7-mm) Vickers guns immediately in front of the cockpit, and a 275 hp Falcon III engine was fitted. In this form, the R.G. had, according to the official report, a “performance ... far and away better than any other machine manufactured”. However, development was discontinued in favour of the superior F.3. Span, 32 ft 0 in (9,75 m) Length, 25 ft 10 in (7,87 m) Height, 9 ft 10 in (2,30 m) Wing area, 310 sq ft (28,80 sq.m). Empty weight, 1,740 lb (789 kg) Loaded weight, 2,261 lb (1 026 kg) Max speed, 132 mph (212 km/h) at 6,500 ft (1 980 m) Time to 10,000 ft (3 050 m), 7.33 min Endurance, 2 hrs ![]() Martinsyde R.G.
|