Spartan Executive

infobox Aircraft
name = Spartan Executive 7W
type = Personal luxury transport
manufacturer = Spartan Aircraft Company



caption =
designer = Spartan Aircraft Company
first flight = March 8, 1936
introduced = 1936
status = Out of Production
primary users =
more users =
produced = 1936 - 1940
number built = 34
unit cost = $23,500 USD
variants with their own articles = Spartan Zeus 8W

The United States Spartan Executive Model 7W was the most popular and well-known aircraft produced by the Spartan Aircraft Company during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Designed for a wealthy clientele, the Model 7W was produced with a number of trend-setting features, gaining considerable attention from the world's wealthiest individuals.

Design

Designed for comfort, the interior of the 7W was large and spacious featuring 18 inches of slide-back seat room for front-seat passengers, arm rests, ash trays, dome lighting, deep cushions, cabin heaters, ventilators, extensive soundproofing, large windows, and interior access to the 100lb-capacity luggage compartment. Built during the Great Depression, the Executive 7W was the brainchild of company-founder William G. Skelly of Skelly Oil who desired a fast, comfortable aircraft to support his tastes and those of his rich oil-executive colleagues. Unlike many pre-World War II aircraft, the Spartan Executive 7W was popular enough to see design replications continue well into the post-World War II period of aviation. [ [http://www.spartan.edu/history/planesproduced.html Spartan Exectuive History According to the Spartan CCAT] ]

Notable owners

Especially remarkable was the aircraft's popularity given the low production number built - a mere 34. Notable owners of Executive 7Ws included aircraft designer and aviator Howard Hughes, J. Paul Getty, and King Ghazi of Iraq. King Ghazi's Spartan Executive was designated "Eagle of Iraq" and was specially outfitted with his Coat of Arms, an extra-luxurious interior, and many additional customized features. [ [http://www.farmboyzsimsflightsims.com/1_FFF_Spartan_Exec.html Spartan Executive FS Review & History] ]

Trivia

* The Executive's high performance allowed the aircraft to compete in the 1939 Bendix Air Races piloted by Arlene Davis. It earned fifth place. [ [http://www.aerofiles.com/nar.html National Air Races ] ]
* A military variant of the Executive 7W was produced by Spartan with a more powerful 600 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine and named the Spartan Zeus 8W.

Specifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=
crew= one, pilot
capacity=3 or 4 passengers
length main= 26 ft 10 in
length alt= 8.18 m
span main= 39 ft 0 in
span alt= 11.89 m
height main= 8 ft 0 in
height alt= 2.44 m
area main= 250 ft²
area alt= 23.23 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,400 lb
empty weight alt= 1,545 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 4,400 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1,996 kg
more general=
* Fuel capacity: 112 US Gal. (432.9 Liters)
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN3
type of prop=9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 450 hp
power alt= 336 kW
power original=
max speed main= 223 knots
max speed alt= 257 mph, 414 km/h
cruise speed main=186 knots
cruise speed alt= 215 mph, 346 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 870 nm
range alt= 1,000 miles, 1,610 km
ceiling main= 24,000 ft
ceiling alt= 7315 m
climb rate main= 1,080 ft/min
climb rate alt= 330 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

* FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet TC628

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Spartan Zeus 8W
similar aircraft=
sequence=
lists=
* List of civil aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=