Spartan C2

C2
Role sport aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Spartan Aircraft Company
Designer Willis Brown[1]
First flight 1931[2]
Number built over 56[1]

The Spartan C2 is a light aircraft produced in the United States in the early 1930s as a low-cost sport machine that would sell during the Great Depression.

Design and development

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

  • C2-60 — initial production version with 55-hp Jacobs L-3 engine (16 built)[1][2]
  • C2-165 — trainer with 165-hp engine and hood for instrument training for Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 built)[1]

Operators

  • Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 × C2-165)

Aircraft on display

Three C2s are preserved in museums — a restored example on display at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum,[6] a restored and flyable example at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon, and an example awaiting restoration at the Golden Wings Flying Museum, Blaine, Minnesota.[7]

Specifications (C2-60)

Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.96 m)
  • Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.20 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Jacobs L-3, 55 hp (41 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 93 mph (150 km/h)
  • Range: 320 miles (510 km)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "C2-60, -165", Aerofiles
  2. 1 2 3 4 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, p.2955
  3. ↑ Taylor 1989, p.835
  4. 1 2 "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History"
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The Spartan Aircraft Company"
  6. ↑ "Exhibits", Tulsa Air and Space Museum
  7. ↑ "Aircraft", Golden Wings Flying Museum
Bibliography
  • "C2-60, -165". Aerofiles. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  • "The Spartan Aircraft Company". AirVenture Museum. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  • "Aircraft". Golden Wings Flying Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing. p. 2955.
  • "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History". Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 835.
  • "Exhibits". Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
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