Spartan Executive
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| Spartan Executive 7W | |
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| Type | Personal luxury transport |
| Manufacturer | Spartan Aircraft Company |
| Designed by | Spartan Aircraft Company |
| Maiden flight | March 8, 1936 |
| Introduced | 1936 |
| Status | Out of Production |
| Produced | 1936 - 1940 |
| Number built | 34 |
| Unit cost | $23,500 USD |
| Variants | Spartan Zeus 8W |
The United States Spartan Executive Model 7W was the most popular and well-known aircraft produced by the Spartan Aircraft Company during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Designed for a wealthy clientele, the Model 7W was produced with a number of trend-setting features, gaining considerable attention from the world's wealthiest individuals.
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[edit] Design
Designed for comfort, the interior of the 7W was large and spacious featuring 18 inches of slide-back seat room for front-seat passengers, arm rests, ash trays, dome lighting, deep cushions, cabin heaters, ventilators, extensive soundproofing, large windows, and interior access to the 100lb-capacity luggage compartment. Built during the Great Depression, the Executive 7W was the brainchild of company-founder William G. Skelly of Skelly Oil who desired a fast, comfortable aircraft to support his tastes and those of his rich oil-executive colleagues. Unlike many pre-World War II aircraft, the Spartan Executive 7W was popular enough to see design replications continue well into the post-World War II period of aviation.[1]
[edit] Notable owners
Especially remarkable was the aircraft's popularity given the low production number built - a mere 34. Notable owners of Executive 7Ws included aircraft designer and aviator Howard Hughes, J. Paul Getty, and King Ghazi of Iraq. King Ghazi's Spartan Executive was designated "Eagle of Iraq" and was specially outfitted with his Coat of Arms, an extra-luxurious interior, and many additional customized features.[2]
[edit] Trivia
- The Executive's high performance allowed the aircraft to compete in the 1939 Bendix Air Races piloted by Arlene Davis. It earned fifth place.[3]
- A military variant of the Executive 7W was produced by Spartan with a more powerful 600 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and named the Spartan Zeus 8W.
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 3 or 4 passengers
- Length: 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
- Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
- Wing area: 250 ft² (23.23 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,400 lb (1,545 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,000 lb (2,272 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN3 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 450 hp (336 kW)
- * Fuel capacity: 112 US Gal. (432.9 Liters)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 223 knots (257 mph, 414 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 186 knots (215 mph, 346 km/h)
- Range: 870 nm (1,000 miles, 1,610 km)
- Service ceiling 24,000 ft (7315 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,080 ft/min (330 m/min)
[edit] References
[edit] See also
Related development
- Spartan Zeus 8W
Related lists
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