Spartan Arrow
| Arrow | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Spartan Arrow 1 G-ABWP built in 1932 at Kemble Airfield, Glos, in May 2009 | |
| Role | Tourer |
| Manufacturer | Spartan Aircraft Limited |
| First flight | 1930 |
| Produced | 1931-1933 |
| Number built | 15 |
The Spartan Arrow is a British two-seat biplane aircraft of the early 1930s, built by Spartan Aircraft Limited.
History[edit]
Built as a successor to the company's first design the Simmonds Spartan, the Arrow was a two-seat biplane with a spruce and plywood fuselage. The prototype G-AAWY first flew in May 1930 with Cirrus Hermes II engine. The 13 production aircraft that followed used mainly the de Havilland Gipsy II engine.
One aircraft, G-ABBE, was fitted with floats and evaluated as a seaplane in 1931, it was converted back to a landplane and later sold in New Zealand, where it was renumbered as ZK-ACQ. A second aircraft, G-ABHD, was sold to Australia where it was renumbered as VH-UQD. A third aircraft, G-ACHG, was sold to Denmark where it was renumbered as OY-DUK.
One aircraft G-ABST was built to test a new air-cooled Napier engine (later knowns as the Javelin). The second prototype G-AAWY was also used by Cirrus Aero Engines as an engine test bed. Production of the Arrow ended in 1933.
Production[edit]
Two prototypes and 13 production aircraft were built at Weston, Southampton, and after 20 February 1931 at East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Tail Number Model Serial Location G-AAWY Spartan Arrow 51 United Kingdom G-AAWZ Spartan Arrow 52 United Kingdom G-ABBE Spartan Arrow 75 United Kingdom K-ACQ Spartan Arrow 75 New Zealand G-ABKL Spartan Arrow 76 United Kingdom G-ABGW Spartan Arrow 77 United Kingdom G-ABWP Spartan Arrow 78 United Kingdom G-ABWR Spartan Arrow 79 United Kingdom G-ABHD Spartan Arrow 80 United Kingdom VH-UQD Spartan Arrow 80 Australia G-ABHR Spartan Arrow 81 United Kingdom G-ABMK Spartan Arrow 82 United Kingdom G-ABOB Spartan Arrow 83 United Kingdom G-ACHE Spartan Arrow 84 United Kingdom G-ACHF Spartan Arrow 85 United Kingdom G-ACHG Spartan Arrow 86 United Kingdom OY-DUK Spartan Arrow 86 Denmark G-ABST Spartan Arrow 87 United Kingdom
Survivors[edit]
G-ABWP a Cirrus Hermes II powered Arrow (constructor's number 78) survives in flying condition based at Redhill Aerodrome in England.
Operators[edit]
The aircraft was operated by flying clubs and private individuals:
Specifications[edit]
Data from Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917[1]
General characteristics
- Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 7 in (9.34 m)
- Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
- Wing area: 251 sq ft (23.3 m2)
- Empty weight: 965 lb (439 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,750 lb (795 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy II inline piston, 120 hp (90 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 92 kn (106 mph, 171 km/h)
- Range: 376 nmi (432 mi, 696 km)
- Rate of climb: 830 ft/min (4.2 m/s)
Notes[edit]
- ^ London 1988, p. 334.
References[edit]
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
- London, Peter (1988). Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-814-3.
External links[edit]
- Simmonds/ Spartan Aircraft
- The Spartan "Arrow". A New Two-Seater with Good Climb. in Flight, 7 November 1930.