Spartan Arrow

Arrow
Spartan Arrow 1 G-ABWP built in 1932 at Kemble Airfield, Glos, in May 2009
General information
TypeTourer
ManufacturerSpartan Aircraft Limited
Number built15
History
Manufactured1931-1933
First flight1930

The Spartan Arrow is a British two-seat biplane aircraft of the early 1930s, built by Spartan Aircraft Limited.

History

[edit]

Built as a successor to the company's first design the Simmonds Spartan, the Arrow was a two-seat biplane with a spruce and plywood fuselage. The prototype G-AAWY first flew in May 1930 with Cirrus Hermes II engine. The 13 production aircraft that followed used mainly the de Havilland Gipsy II engine.

One aircraft, G-ABBE, was fitted with floats and evaluated as a seaplane in 1931, it was converted back to a landplane and later sold in New Zealand, where it was renumbered as ZK-ACQ. A second aircraft, G-ABHD, was sold to Australia where it was renumbered as VH-UQD. A third aircraft, G-ACHG, was sold to Denmark where it was renumbered as OY-DUK.

One aircraft G-ABST was built to test a new air-cooled Napier engine (later knowns as the Javelin). The second prototype G-AAWY was also used by Cirrus Aero Engines as an engine test bed. Production of the Arrow ended in 1933.

Production

[edit]

Two prototypes and 13 production aircraft were built at Weston, Southampton, and after 20 February 1931 at East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

Tail Number	    Model     Serial      Location  G-AAWY		Spartan Arrow	51	United Kingdom  G-AAWZ		Spartan Arrow	52	United Kingdom  G-ABBE		Spartan Arrow	75	United Kingdom  K-ACQ		Spartan Arrow	75	 New Zealand  G-ABKL		Spartan Arrow	76	United Kingdom  G-ABGW		Spartan Arrow	77	United Kingdom  G-ABWP		Spartan Arrow	78	United Kingdom  G-ABWR		Spartan Arrow	79	United Kingdom  G-ABHD		Spartan Arrow	80	United Kingdom  VH-UQD		Spartan Arrow	80	  Australia  G-ABHR		Spartan Arrow	81	United Kingdom  G-ABMK		Spartan Arrow	82	United Kingdom  G-ABOB		Spartan Arrow	83	United Kingdom  G-ACHE		Spartan Arrow	84	United Kingdom  G-ACHF		Spartan Arrow	85	United Kingdom  G-ACHG		Spartan Arrow	86	United Kingdom  OY-DUK		Spartan Arrow	86	   Denmark  G-ABST		Spartan Arrow	87	United Kingdom 

Survivors

[edit]

G-ABWP a Cirrus Hermes II powered Arrow (constructor's number 78) survives in flying condition based at Redhill Aerodrome in England.

Operators

[edit]

The aircraft was operated by flying clubs and private individuals:

 Australia
 Denmark
 New Zealand
 Norway
 Sweden
 United Kingdom

Specifications

[edit]

Data from Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917[1]

General characteristics

  • Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 7 in (9.34 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
  • Wing area: 251 sq ft (23.3 m2)
  • Empty weight: 965 lb (439 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,750 lb (795 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy II inline piston, 120 hp (90 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 92 kn (106 mph, 171 km/h)
  • Range: 376 nmi (432 mi, 696 km)
  • Rate of climb: 830 ft/min (4.2 m/s)

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ London 1988, p. 334.

References

[edit]
  • 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.
  • London, Peter (1988). Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-814-3.
[edit]