Sparmann S-1
Einar Sparmann · Sweden · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Sparmann S-1 was a Swedish single-seat racing monoplane designed by Einar Sparmann in the early 1930s, featuring retractable undercarriage and a clean aerodynamic form that made it one of the fastest privately-owned aircraft in Scandinavia at the time. It reflected the wider European racing aircraft movement that produced contemporaries such as the British Percival Mew Gull.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.18 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sleek 1930s Swedish racing monoplane with retractable undercarriage
- De Havilland Gipsy Six inline engine under a long-chord close-fitting cowling
- Low tapered wing with minimal ground clearance and narrow track undercarriage
The retractable undercarriage, inline engine with tight-fitting cowling, and very clean low-wing monoplane profile place the S-1 alongside the elite European racing monoplanes of the mid-1930s.
Specifications
- The Sparmann S-1 has a length of 6.18 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8 m (26 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sparmann designed and built the S-1 in Sweden around 1934, entering it in European air races and speed competitions. The de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, also used in the Percival Mew Gull and DH.88 Comet, gave the aircraft its competitive performance. The S-1 was a significant achievement for Swedish private aviation of the interwar period.
Variants
Only one example of the S-1 was completed; no production variants were built.
Where you'll see it
Used exclusively for private racing and demonstration flying; the aircraft is noted in Swedish aviation history as an example of sophisticated indigenous light-aircraft design during the 1930s.
Related aircraft
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