Spartan Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1930 to 1935. It was formed by reinvestment in Simmonds Aircraft which had suffered financially.
History
In 1928
Oliver Simmonds designed and built a prototype aircraft, the
Simmonds Spartan, in a factory at
Woolston, Hampshire
Woolston is a suburb of Southampton, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen, Hampshire, River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, River Itchen, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston, Southampton, Weston.
The ar ...
. The design was a success with over 50 aircraft built. Following financial difficulties and investment from
Whitehall Securities Whitehall Securities Corporation Ltd was formed in 1907 by Weetman Pearson MP and his son Harold Pearson MP. Sir Weetman was nominated as President as well as being a founding director. The company was capitalised at £1,000,000. On 12 December 1 ...
Corporation Ltd Simmonds Aircraft Limited changed name in 1930 to Spartan Aircraft Limited.
The first aircraft from the renamed company was the
Spartan Arrow a two-seat biplane of which 15 were built.
[Jackson, 1974, p. 180] The next design was a three-seat open-cockpit biplane the
Spartan Three Seater. The company ceased to build aircraft in 1935.
In January 1931
''Flight'' magazine revealed that Whitehall Securities had acquired a substantial holding in
Saunders Roe Ltd. and arising out of this investment Spartan was effectively merged into Saunders Roe. Spartan Aircraft's final product was the
Spartan Cruiser
The Spartan Cruiser was a 1930s British three- engined transport monoplane for 6 to 10 passengers built by Spartan Aircraft Limited at East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
It was a development of the Saro-Percival Mailplane for passenger use.
Developme ...
a three-engined light airliner developed from the Saro-Percival Mailplane.
Aircraft
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Simmonds Spartan
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Spartan Arrow – first flight 1930, 15 built
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Spartan Three Seater – first flight 1931, 25 built
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Spartan Cruiser
The Spartan Cruiser was a 1930s British three- engined transport monoplane for 6 to 10 passengers built by Spartan Aircraft Limited at East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
It was a development of the Saro-Percival Mailplane for passenger use.
Developme ...
– passenger, first flight 1932 17 built
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Spartan Clipper – 1 built 1932
See also
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Spartan Air Lines
Spartan Air Lines Ltd was a British private airline company active between 1933 and1935. In 1933 it started operating passenger services from the London area to the Isle of Wight. In late 1935 it merged with United Airways Ltd to form British Air ...
Notes
References
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External links
Simmonds/Spartan production
{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom
Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Companies based in Southampton
British companies established in 1930
Manufacturing companies established in 1930
1930 establishments in England