Spartan Three Seater

infobox Aircraft
name = Three Seater
type = Tourer/Pleasure Flying
manufacturer = Spartan Aircraft Limited



caption = ZK-ARH, the surviving Three Seater II, in New Zealand
designer =
first flight = 1930
introduced = 1931
retired =
produced =
number built = 25
status =
unit cost =
primary user =
more users =
developed from = Simmonds Spartan
variants with their own articles =

The Spartan Three Seater was a British three-seat biplane touring and pleasure flying aircraft built by Spartan Aircraft Limited.

History

Built as a three-seat version of the Simmonds Spartan, the Three Seater was a three-seat biplane with a spruce and plywood fuselage. Although not many aircraft were built the Three Seater was a mainstay of the pleasure flying business in the 1930s. The wings were designed to fold back easily, in order to be stored in a shed rather than requiring a dedicated hangar.

Following the first batch of aircraft, designated the Three Seater I, an improved version was built and designated as the Three Seater II. The six Three Seater IIs had improved visibility for the pilot and easier access for the passengers, and were powered by a 130 horsepower Cirrus Hermes IV engine.

One Three Seater II (registered as ZK-ARH) currently survives, owned by a private individual in New Zealand, having passed through British and Irish owners (as G-ABYN and E-ABU) since its manufacture in June 1932.

Variants

*Three Seater I - 19 aircraft
*Three Seater II - 6 aircraft

Operators

The aircraft was mainly operated by flying clubs and private individuals:

;flag|Australia;flag|Republic of Ireland;flag|Iraq|1924
* Iraq Airwork Limited;flag|South Africa|1928;flag|Tanganyika;flag|United Kingdom
* British Airways Limited

pecifications (Three Seater II)

aircraft specification