Spartan Three Seater
Spartan Aircraft Limited · United Kingdom · first flew 1930 · light aircraft
The Spartan Three Seater was a British three-seat biplane built by Spartan Aircraft Limited for touring and pleasure flying.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Spruce and plywood fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-seat biplane
- Spruce and plywood fuselage
- Wings fold back for storage
A biplane with three seats and a spruce and plywood fuselage; the wings fold back.
Specifications
- The Spartan Three Seater has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.79 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 172 km/h (107 mph).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built as a three-seat version of the Simmonds Spartan and first flew in 1930. The fuselage was of spruce and plywood, and the wings were designed to fold back so that the aircraft could be kept in a shed rather than a dedicated hangar.
Variants
The Three Seater I accounted for 19 aircraft. The improved Three Seater II, of which six were built, had better visibility for the pilot, easier access for the passengers and a 130 hp Cirrus Hermes IV.
Where you'll see it
Although not many were built, it was a mainstay of the pleasure-flying business in the 1930s, operated mainly by flying clubs and private individuals. One Three Seater II, ZK-ARH, survives in New Zealand.
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