Spartan 8W Zeus

8W Zeus
Role Military training aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Spartan Aircraft Company
First flight 1937[1]
Number built 4 or 5[2]
Developed from Spartan Executive

The Spartan 8W Zeus, also designated FBW-1 Zeus was a military aircraft produced in small numbers in the United States in the late 1930s, based on the airframe of the Spartan Executive civil aircraft.[1][2][3]

Development

It was a conventional low-wing monoplane of metal construction,[4] with a semi-monocoque fuselage and a cantilever wing. Two crewmembers sat in tandem beneath an extensively-glazed canopy, and the main units of the tailwheel undercarriage were retractable. Fitted with a fixed, forward-firing machine gun, a flexible tailgun, and capacity for light bombs under the wings, Spartan offered the Zeus to the USAAC for testing as an advanced trainer.[1][5]

Operational history

Although no orders followed, Spartan sold a number of examples to Mexico and China.[3]

Following Mexico's refusal to accept the French and British non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War, the Mexican aircraft were purchased by the Spanish Republican military. In the end, however, the freighter carrying them was sunk and these US made planes could not take part in the war.[6]

Operators

Military
 China
 Mexico
 Spain

Specifications

Data from Aerofiles, except as noted

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related lists

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "8W Zeus", Aerofiles
  2. 1 2 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, p.2955
  3. 1 2 Taylor 1989, p.835
  4. ↑ "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History"
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The Spartan Aircraft Company"
  6. ↑ Aircraft that didn't participate in the Spanish Civil war

References


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