| Spartan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Trainer/tourer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Simmonds Aircraft Limited |
| Designer | Oliver E. Simmonds |
| Primary user | National Flying Services Ltd |
| Number built | 49 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1928 |
| First flight | 1928 |
The Simmonds Spartan is a 1920s British two-seat biplane trainer/tourer aircraft built by Simmonds Aircraft Limited.
Not happy with the high cost of manufacturing light aircraft, O.E. Simmonds designed and built a wooden two-seat biplane in 1928. To reduce maintenance costs all four wings and ailerons were identical; this allowed one spare wing to be used in any position. This meant that the wing had a symmetrical aerofoil - an unusual arrangement. Additionally the tail control surfaces were interchangeable as well as the wheels and the bracing wires. Powered by a Cirrus III, the prototype G-EBYU first flew in time to enter the King's Cup Air Race of 1928. The aircraft was flown to the Berlin Aero Show on 24 October 1928, a non-stop flight of 7 hours and 10 minutes.
Production began at Woolston, Hampshire, [1] with the final assembly and test flying at Hamble Aerodrome. Forty-nine aircraft were built, many for export, with New Zealand customers buying the most. At home 12 were delivered to the National Flying Services for use as trainers. Three aircraft were operated on floats in Fiji. Although not as famous as other aircraft of the period, one aircraft was ski-equipped and was notable for covering more than 45,000 miles over Norwegian mountain ranges. Three aircraft were built as three-seaters, with two passengers in tandem in front of the pilot; these were mainly used for pleasure flying.
Due to the success of the Spartan, the company renamed itself Spartan Aircraft Limited and developed the design into the two-seater Spartan Arrow and the three-seater Spartan Three Seater.
New Zealand Simmonds Spartan ZK-ABZ is situated at the Geraldine Tractor and Automobile Museum. It was flown by Geraldine-based New Zealand Airways Limited, amongst others. [2] NZ Simmonds Spartan ZK-ABK was rebuilt and obtained a COA (Certificate of Airworthiness) in 2008. It is currently (2023) believed to be still flying.
The aircraft was operated by flying clubs and private individuals:
Australia 
Fiji 
India 
New Zealand 
Norway 
South Africa 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
