| Sparrow | |
|---|---|
| Supermarine Sparrow II, marked as number "7" for the 1926 Lympne light aircraft trials | |
| Role | Two-seat light aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Supermarine Aviation Works |
| Designer | R.J. Mitchell |
| First flight | 11 September 1924 |
| Retired | 1930 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Supermarine Sparrow is a British two-seat light aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell and built by Supermarine at Woolston.
The Sparrow I was designed and built for the 1924 Lympne light aircraft trials. It was a two-seat biplane powered by a 35 hp (26 kW) Blackburne Thrush piston engine, with dual control. The Sparrow I (registered G-EBJP) first flew on 11 September 1924.[1] The Thrush, a three-cylinder radial engine proved to be extremely unrelaible and the Sparrow was eliminated from the light aircraft trial due to engine failure. In the Grosvenor Trophy Race at Lympne Aerodrome on 14 October 1924, it came fourth with a speed of 62.08 mph (99.91 km/h).[2]
The aircraft was re-built for the 1926 Lympne Trials as a parasol monoplane (and re-designated the Sparrow II) and re-engined with a 32 hp (24 kW) Bristol Cherub III engine. During the trials the Sparrow force-landed near Beachy Head on 12 September 1926, again being eliminated from the competition, which was won by the Hawker Cygnet.[3] After use for testing wing sections, the aircraft was sold to the Halton Aero Club,[4] remaining in existence until 1933.[5]
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 [5]
General characteristics
Performance
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||