Spartan Three Seater
| Three Seater | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ZK-ARH, the surviving Three Seater II, in New Zealand | |
| Role | Tourer/Pleasure Flying |
| Manufacturer | Spartan Aircraft Limited |
| First flight | 1930 |
| Introduction | 1931 |
| Number built | 25 |
| Developed from | Simmonds Spartan |
The Spartan Three Seater was a British three-seat biplane touring and pleasure-flying aircraft built by Spartan Aircraft Limited.
History
Built as a three-seat version of the Simmonds Spartan, the Three Seater was a biplane with a spruce and plywood fuselage. Although not many aircraft were built, the Three Seater was a mainstay of the pleasure flying business in the 1930s. The wings were designed to fold back easily, in order to be stored in a shed rather than requiring a dedicated hangar.
Following the first batch of aircraft, designated the Three Seater I, an improved version was built and designated as the Three Seater II. The six Three Seater IIs had improved visibility for the pilot and easier access for the passengers, and were powered by a 130 horsepower (97 kW) Cirrus Hermes IV engine.
One Three Seater II (registered as ZK-ARH) currently survives, owned by a private individual in New Zealand, having passed through British and Irish owners (as G-ABYN and EI-ABU) since its manufacture in June 1932.
Variants
- Three Seater I - 19 aircraft
- Three Seater II - 6 aircraft
Operators
The aircraft was mainly operated by flying clubs and private individuals:
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Specifications (Three Seater II)
General characteristics
- Length: 26 ft 3 in (8.0 m)
- Wingspan: 28 ft 10 in (8.79 m)
- Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
- Wing area: 240 ft² (22 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,030 lb (468 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 1,680 lb (764 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Cirrus Hermes I or II inline piston, 120 hp (90 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 93 knots (107 mph, 172 km/h)
- Range: 226 nm (260 miles, 419 km)
- Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spartan Aircraft Ltd. |
- 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.