Spartan Clipper

Clipper
General information
Type	Civil touring aeroplane
Manufacturer	Spartan Aircraft Limited
Designer	H.E. Broadsmith
Primary user	Spartan Aircraft Limited
Number built	1
History
Manufactured	1932
First flight	14 December 1932
Retired	Destroyed 4 May 1942

The Spartan Clipper was a British light touring aeroplane of the 1930s. It was a single-engine, two-seat, low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.

Development

H.E. Broadsmith designed the Clipper as a two-seater; he employed the outer wings of the Monospar ST-4. Spartan Aircraft Limited built one example at their East Cowes works in 1932. The aeroplane was initially fitted with a 75-hp Pobjoy R motor. Registered G-ACEG it flew for the first time on 14 December 1932. After modification to undercarriage, cabin glazing and cowling, it received a Certificate of Airworthiness on 29 June 1933. ^[1]

In 1933 the Clipper was raced in the King's Cup Race. ^[1]

In 1938, it was re-engined with a Pobjoy Niagara III of 90-hp, after which it was used as a company hack until 4 May 1942, when it was destroyed in an air raid on Cowes. ^[1]

Specifications

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3, ^[2] Saunders and Saro aircraft since 1917 ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 28 ft 2 in (8.59 m)
• Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
• Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
• Wing area: 150 sq ft (14 m²)
• Empty weight: 770 lb (349 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,300 lb (590 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 140 lb (64 kg) fuel and oil
• Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy R 7-cylinder air-cooled geared radial piston engine, 75 hp (56 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
• Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)

References

1. London, Peter (1988). Saunders and Saro aircraft since 1917 (1st ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 337–339. ISBN   0851778143.
2. Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 3. Putnam.