Arrow
Spartan Arrow 1 G-ABWP built in 1932 at Kemble Airfield, Glos, in May 2009
Role Tourer
Manufacturer Spartan Aircraft Limited
First flight 1930
Produced 1931-1933
Number built 15

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

History

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

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

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

Operators

The aircraft was operated by flying clubs and private individuals:

 Australia
 Denmark
 New Zealand
 Norway
 Sweden
 United Kingdom

Specifications

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

  1. ↑ London 1988, p. 334.

References

  • 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.
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