Spartan C2 Explained

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.^{[1] [2]} 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.^[1] 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.^{[3] [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 Jacobs L-3 engine (16 built)^{[3] [1]}
• C2-165 — trainer with Wright J-5 engine and hood for instrument training for Spartan School of Aeronautics (2 built)^[3]

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]

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Web site: C2-60, -165 . Aerofiles . 2011-02-27 .
• Web site: The Spartan Aircraft Company . AirVenture Museum . 2011-02-27 .
• Web site: Aircraft . Golden Wings Flying Museum . 2011-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110120182514/http://goldenwingsmuseum.com/Aircraft.html . 2011-01-20 . dead.
• Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . Aerospace Publishing. London . 2955 .
• Web site: Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History . Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology . 2011-02-27 .
• Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 835 .
• Web site: Exhibits . Tulsa Air and Space Museum . 2011-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110318113004/http://www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.org/exhibits.php . 2011-03-18 . dead.

Notes and References

1. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, p.2955
2. Taylor 1989, p.835
3. "C2-60, -165", Aerofiles
4. "Spartan's Aircraft Manufacturing History"
5. "The Spartan Aircraft Company"
6. "Exhibits", Tulsa Air and Space Museum
7. "Aircraft", Golden Wings Flying Museum