Spartan Arrow

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Arrow
Type Tourer
Manufacturer Spartan Aircraft Limited
Maiden flight 1932
Number built 15

The Spartan Arrow is a British two-seat biplane aircraft built by Spartan Aircraft Limited.

Contents

[edit] History

Built as a successor to the companies 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 was fitted with floats and evaluated as a seaplane in 1931, it was converted back to a landplane and later sold in New Zealand.

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.

[edit] Production

Two prototypes and 13 production aircraft were built at Weston, Southampton, and after 20 February 1931 at East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

[edit] Survivors

G-ABWP a Cirrus Hermes powered Arrow survives in flying condition based in England.

[edit] Operators

The aircraft was operated by flying clubs and private individuals:

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

  • Length: 25 ft 0 in ()
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 7 in ()
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in ()
  • Wing area: 251 ft² ()
  • Empty weight: 965 lb (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,200 lb (2812 kg)

Performance

[edit] Reference

    • 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. 

    [edit] External links

    [edit] Related content

     

     

    Designation sequence

    Simmonds Spartan • Spartan Arrow • Spartan Three SeaterSpartan CruiserSpartan Clipper