Spartan C2
Spartan C2 | |
---|---|
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Role | sport aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Spartan Aircraft Company |
Designer | Willis Brown[1] |
First flight | 1931[2] |
Number built | over 56[1] |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Spartan_C2-60_low_wing_monoplane.jpg/220px-Spartan_C2-60_low_wing_monoplane.jpg)
TheSpartan C2is alight aircraftproduced in the United States in the early 1930s as a low-cost sport machine that would sell during theGreat Depression.
Design and development
[edit]The C2 is a conventional, low-wing monoplane design with two seats side-by-side in an open cockpit.[2][3]The wing was braced with struts and wires and it carried the main units of the divided fixed undercarriage. Power was supplied by a small radial engine mounted tractor-fashion in the nose, which drove a two-bladed propeller.
Spartan introduced the C2 in 1931 with a 55-hp engine, and sold 16 examples before ongoing economic circumstances brought production to a halt.[2]Spartan then built 2 examples with 165-hp engines to use in their own flying school. These latter aircraft were fitted with hoods that could be closed over the cockpit for training pilots in instrument flying.[1][4]Spartan offered this version to the U.S. military as a trainer,[5]but officials at the time believed that low-wing monoplanes were unsuitable for pilot training.[4]Spartan also tendered a proposal to the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce to provide its inspectors with a two-seat light aircraft.[5]The design in question was probably the C2-60,[5]but in any case, the tender was not accepted.[5]
Variants
[edit]- C2-60— initial production version with 55–60 hp (41–45 kW)Jacobs L-3engine (16 built)[1][2]
- C2-165— trainer with 165 hp (123 kW)Wright J-5engine and hood for instrument training for Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 built)[1]
Operators
[edit]- Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 × C2-165)
Aircraft on display
[edit]Three C2s are preserved in museums — a restored example on display at theTulsa Air and Space Museum,[6]a restored and flyable example at theWestern Antique Aeroplane & Automobile MuseuminHood River, Oregon,and an example awaiting restoration at theGolden Wings Flying Museum,Blaine, Minnesota.[7]
Specifications (C2-60)
[edit]Data fromJane's all the World's Aircraft 1931,[8]Aerofiles: Spartan[1]
General characteristics
- Crew:1
- Capacity:1 pax
- Length:22 ft 5.25 in (6.8390 m)
- Wingspan:40 ft (12 m)
- Height:6 ft 11.5 in (2.121 m)
- Wing area:161.8 sq ft (15.03 m2)
- Airfoil:Clark Y
- Empty weight:684 lb (310 kg)
- Gross weight:1,125 lb (510 kg)
- Fuel capacity:Fuel:15 US gal (12 imp gal; 57 L); Oil:1.5 US gal (1.2 imp gal; 5.7 L)
- Powerplant:1 ×Jacobs L-33-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 60 hp (45 kW)
- Propellers:2-bladed metal propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed:95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
- Cruise speed:80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn) </li.
- Landing speed:39 mph (34 kn; 63 km/h)
- Range:320 mi (510 km, 280 nmi)
- Service ceiling:13,000 ft (4,000 m) service
- Rate of climb:800 ft/min (4.1 m/s) initial
- Wing loading:6.96 lb/sq ft (34.0 kg/m2)
- Power/mass:18.756 lb/hp (11.409 kg/kW)
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Notes
- ^abcdef"C2-60, -165",Aerofiles
- ^abcdThe Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft,p.2955
- ^Taylor 1989, p.835
- ^ab"Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History"
- ^abcd"The Spartan Aircraft Company"
- ^"Exhibits", Tulsa Air and Space Museum
- ^"Aircraft", Golden Wings Flying Museum
- ^Grey, C.G., ed. (1931).Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931.London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 316c.
- Bibliography
- "C2-60, -165".Aerofiles.Retrieved2011-02-27.
- "The Spartan Aircraft Company".AirVenture Museum.Retrieved2011-02-27.
- "Aircraft".Golden Wings Flying Museum.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-01-20.Retrieved2011-02-27.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft.London: Aerospace Publishing. p. 2955.
- "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History".Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology.Retrieved2011-02-27.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions. p. 835.
- "Exhibits".Tulsa Air and Space Museum.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-03-18.Retrieved2011-02-27.