Great Lakes Sportsman
Great Lakes Aircraft · United States · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The Great Lakes Sportsman was an American light biplane of the late 1920s, designed as an affordable two-seat sporting and training aircraft for the private market.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.99 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s American light biplane with open cockpits
- Tandem two-seat sport and training biplane
- Small equal-chord staggered wings with N-struts
A compact equal-span biplane with tandem open cockpits, a radial or inline piston engine, and typical 1920s wire-braced N-strut interplane structure.
Specifications
- The Great Lakes Sportsman has a length of 6.99 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Produced by Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio, the Sportsman appeared in 1929 just as the economic depression curtailed the private aviation boom. It was aimed at flying clubs and sport pilots.
Variants
Several engine variants were offered to suit buyer preference and available powerplants; few details of distinct marks survive.
Where you'll see it
The Sportsman found limited commercial success due to the Depression and was operated mainly by private owners and small flying clubs in the United States.
Related aircraft
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