Paramount Model 120 Sportster
Paramount Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1931 · light aircraft
The Paramount Model 120 Sportster floatplane, also called the Speedster in its landplane form, was an attempt to build a low-production aircraft for the small high-end market of the Depression era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Strut-braced low-wing monoplane
- Two seats side by side in an open cockpit
- Single radial engine
A two-seat, side-by-side, open-cockpit low-wing monoplane with a 110 hp Warner Scarab radial engine, 7.24 m long with a 9.1 m wingspan.
Specifications
- The Paramount Model 120 Sportster has a length of 7.24 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.1 m (30 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
After poor sales of the Cabinaire, Ed Behse pursued a new design using the Warner engine from that aircraft. The prototype was built in six weeks, first flew on 10 April 1931 and was shown at the 1931 National Aircraft Show in Detroit.
Variants
The floatplane was the Sportster and the landplane version was the Speedster.
Where you'll see it
The prototype was demonstrated at the Detroit show and received several orders. On 16 May 1931 it dived into the water on a demonstration flight, killing both occupants, and the company was dissolved soon after.
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