Single engine single seat fighter aircraft.

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    The Martinside F.4 Buzzard being one of the fastest fighters at the end of World War I,  the Handley Page Ltd. Cricklewood owned G-EATD (former RFC D4267) was flown to Evere airfield on 25 May 1921 to be evaluated. On 28 June 1921 it was flown by experienced pilot Lt; Kervyn de Lettenhove to 9/IV at Schaffen to be evaluated by the locally based fighter pilots. Before that, on 4 & 5 June 1921 the machine was presented during the "Meeting du Printemps" at Evere airfield. For this show the aircraft was devoid of all its markings and received a prominent "meeting number" "1" on the fuselage and wings. (see picture above). After having been test flown by a majority of the pilots of the Groupe de Chasse of Schaffen, the aircraft was returned to its owner in the U.K where it was re-registered G-EATD on 12 May 1922 only to be permanently grounded two moths later.

     Rumours have it that a second company owned Buzzard - G-EAXB (former RFC D4279) - was also involved in the testing of the fighter by the Belgian authorities. These tests were organided in the framework of a fly-off competition to replace the mix of WWI fighters still active in the Belgian Air Service, such as the Hanriot HD.1, Spad XIII and Nieuport 17/23. Ultimately the Nieuport Delage NiD.29 was chosen as the new fighter aircraft..