Supermarine Sparrow

Manufacturer: Supermarine Aviation Works
Designed by: R.J. Mitchell
First flight: 11 September 1924
Retired: 1930
Number built: 1

The Supermarine Sparrow is a British two-seat light aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell and built by Supermarine at Woolston.

Development

The Sparrow I was designed and built for the 1924 Lympne light aircraft trials. It was a two-seat biplane powered by a 35 hp (26 kW) Blackburne Thrush piston engine, with dual control. The Sparrow I (registered G-EBJP) first flew on 11 September 1924. The Thrush, a three-cylinder radial engine proved to be extremely unrelaible and the Sparrow was eliminated from the light aircraft trial due to engine failure. In the Grosvenor Trophy Race at Lympne Aerodrome on 14 October 1924, it came fourth with a speed of 62.08 mph (99.91 km/h).

The aircraft was re-built for the 1926 Lympne Trials as a parasol monoplane (and re-designated the Sparrow II) and re-engined with a 32 hp (24 kW) Bristol Cherub III engine. During the trials the Sparrow force-landed near Beachy Head on 12 September 1926, again being eliminated from the competition, which was won by the Hawker Cygnet. After use for testing wing sections, the aircraft was sold to the Halton Aero Club, remaining in existence until 1933.

Variants

Sparrow I Blackburne Thrush powered biplane Sparrow II Sparrow I modified into a monoplane powered by a Bristol Cherub III piston engine.

Specifications (Sparrow I)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
Height: 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
Wing area: 256 ft² (23.8 m²)
Empty weight: 475 lb (215 kg)
Gross weight: 860 lb (390 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Blackburne Thrush piston engine, 35 hp (26 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 72 mph (116 km/h)
Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,350 m)

Comparable aircraft

Hawker Cygnet
De Havilland Humming Bird

Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Supermarine Aircraft since 1914. London:Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0851778003.
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919:Volume 3. London. Putnam, 1988, ISBN 0851778186.

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Source: WikiPedia