Spartan C2

The Spartan C2 is a light aircraft produced in the United States in the early 1930s as a low-cost sport machine that would sell during the Great Depression.

Design and development

The C2 is a conventional, low-wing monoplane design with two seats side-by-side in an open cockpit.^[2][3] The wing was braced with struts and wires and it carried the main units of the divided fixed undercarriage. Power was supplied by a small radial engine mounted tractor-fashion in the nose, which drove a two-bladed propeller.

Spartan introduced the C2 in 1931 with a 55-hp engine, and sold 16 examples before ongoing economic circumstances brought production to a halt.^[2] Spartan then built 2 examples with 165-hp engines to use in their own flying school. These latter aircraft were fitted with hoods that could be closed over the cockpit for training pilots in instrument flying.^[1][4] Spartan offered this version to the U.S. military as a trainer,^[5] but officials at the time believed that low-wing monoplanes were unsuitable for pilot training.^[4] Spartan also tendered a proposal to the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce to provide its inspectors with a two-seat light aircraft.^[5] The design in question was probably the C2-60,^[5] but in any case, the tender was not accepted.^[5]

Variants

• C2-60 — initial production version with 55-hp Jacobs L-3 engine (16 built)^[1][2]
• C2-165 — trainer with 165-hp engine and hood for instrument training for Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 built)^[1]

Operators

• Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 × C2-165)

Aircraft on display

Three C2s are preserved in museums ­— a restored example on display at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum,^[6] a restored and flyable example at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon, and an example awaiting restoration at the Golden Wings Flying Museum, Blaine, Minnesota.^[7]

Specifications (C2-60)

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.96 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.20 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Jacobs L-3, 55 hp (41 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 93 mph (150 km/h)
• Range: 320 miles (510 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Okamura N-52

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spartan Aircraft Company.

Notes

Bibliography

• "C2-60, -165". Aerofiles. Retrieved 2011-02-27. 
• "The Spartan Aircraft Company". AirVenture Museum. Retrieved 2011-02-27. 
• "Aircraft". Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 2011-02-27. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing. p. 2955. 
• "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History". Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Retrieved 2011-02-27. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 835. 
• "Exhibits". Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 2011-02-27.