View source for Spartan Executive

{{Short description|American cabin monoplane aircraft produced 1936 - 1940}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = Spartan 7W Executive
 |image = File:Spartan Executive Old Warden 7 Oct 2013 1.jpg
 |caption =Spartan Executive ''NC17633''
 |type = Personal luxury transport
 |national_origin= [[United States]]
 |manufacturer = [[Spartan Aircraft Company]]
 |designer = 
 |first_flight = March 8, 1936<ref name="aerofiles Spartan"/>
 |introduction = 1936
 |status = 
 |more_users =
 |produced = 1936 - 1940
 |number_built = 36
 |unit cost = [[US$]] 23,500
 |variants = [[Spartan 12W]]
}}
[[File:Spartan Executive NC17682 01A.JPG|thumb|Spartan Executive at [[Sun 'n Fun]] 2006]]

The '''Spartan 7W Executive''' is a cabin [[monoplane]] [[aircraft]] that was produced by the [[Spartan Aircraft Company]] during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The 7W features an all-metal [[fuselage]], as well as a retractable undercarriage. The 7W Executive was popular with affluent buyers worldwide.<ref name="aerofiles Spartan">[http://aerofiles.com/_spartan.html "American airplanes: Spartan."] ''Aerofiles''. Retrieved: August 27, 2017.</ref>{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==Design and development==
Designed expressly for the executive market, the Spartan Executive was configured for both performance and comfort. Built during the [[Great Depression]], the 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.<ref>Peek and Goodhead 1994, p. 76.</ref> Through a series of acquisitions, [[J. Paul Getty]] took over ownership of the Spartan Aircraft Company in 1935, and directed its fortunes from that point to 1968.<ref name="Spartan">Peek and Goodhead 1994, p. 150.</ref>

The interior of the 7W is spacious and features {{convert|18|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} of slide-back seat room for front-seat passengers, armrests, [[Ashtray|ash trays]], dome lighting, deep cushions, cabin heaters, ventilators, soundproofing, large windows, and interior access to the {{convert|100|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} capacity luggage compartment. The interior can be configured for four or five passengers.<ref name="Jane's Encyclopedia">Taylor 1989, p. 983.</ref>

In 1938, Spartan published a concept brochure for a possible future military aircraft, the model '''7W-F'''. Using existing photographs of Spartan Executive serial number 10 that was painted in a unique paint scheme and was registered as NC17610, artists modified those photographs to show the possibilities of the concept airplane. The photo enhancements incorporated two forward-firing .30 calibre [[machine gun]]s mounted on the port side near the [[Firewall (construction)|firewall]] and firing through the propeller arc through a [[Synchronization gear|synchronized]] mechanism. A further enhancement showed a gunner's station at a dorsal hatch on the roof with a windscreen and machine gun fitted.  Bomb racks under the wings were also shown in the enhanced photos. The program never went beyond the concept brochure.<ref name=":0">Savage, Jim. ''Vintage Spartan Aircraft'', 2022, pp. 5-32</ref>

Following up on the 7W-F concept, Spartan then built a two-seat military variant of the 7W Executive, named the '''[[Spartan 8W Zeus]].''' The aircraft featured a greenhouse canopy covering a [[tandem]] cockpit and was powered by a more powerful {{convert|600|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]] engine.<ref name="aerofiles Spartan" /> The 8W was designed as an advanced trainer for military use. Only one example was built and Spartan was unsuccessful in marketing the airplane. It eventually became a training aid for the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<ref name=":1">Savage, Jim. ''Vintage Spartan Aircraft'', 2022, pp. 91-97.</ref>

Including the 7X prototype and the three-seat 7W-P photo reconnaissance model that evolved from the second prototype and was exported to China, 36 aircraft are generally referred to as Spartan Executives. Of the 36, only 34 are actual model 7Ws. The last 7W, serial number 34, was completed in September 1940.

In 1942, a total of 16 7W Executives were impressed into military service with the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. The 7Ws served as executive transports for military staff as the '''UC-71'''.<ref name="Jane's Encyclopedia"/>

A post-[[World War II]] effort to rekindle interest in the Executive series, under the re-branded '''[[Spartan 12W Executive|Spartan 12-W]]''' designation, failed to gain interest.<ref name="Jane's Encyclopedia"/> Only one Model 12 was completed, and today is part of the [[Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium]] collection.<ref>Stewart, D.R. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/aerospace/one-of-a-kind-spartan-model-plane-comes-home-to/article_5fcb8e3e-39d6-5962-8048-b1eca9cc9bd8.html "One-of-a-kind Spartan Model 12 plane comes home to Tulsa."] ''Tulsa World'', September 28, 2012. Retrieved: August 27, 2017.</ref>

As of  February 2022, a total of 20 model 7Ws still exist. Fifteen are based in the US, two are in England, one in Germany, one in France and one in Russia.<ref name=":0" />

==Operational history==
In April 2023 there were 19 Spartan 7Ws and one Spartan 12 remaining on the US [[Federal Aviation Administration]] aircraft register.<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = Make / Model Inquiry|accessdate = 30 April 2023|author = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 30 April 2023}}</ref>

Notable owners of 7Ws include: American entrepreneur, aerospace engineer and founder of Garrett AiResearch, [[John Clifford Garrett]]; American aviator and air racer, [[Arlene Davis]]; American aviator, air racing pilot, and movie stunt pilot, [[Paul Mantz]]; wealthy industrialist [[J. Paul Getty]], {{#tag:ref|Getty was the president of Spartan Aircraft Company.<ref name="Spartan"/>|group=Note}}; and [[King Ghazi]] of Iraq. King Ghazi's Spartan Executive was designated "Eagle of Iraq" and was outfitted with his [[coat of arms]], an extra-luxurious interior and customized features.<ref>Peek and Goodhead, 1994, p. 89</ref> Although not an owner, aircraft designer and aviator [[Howard Hughes]] is often associated with the Spartan Executive due to his involvement with America's War Bond Campaign. During January 1943, Hughes was provided with one of the USAAF Spartans for his use in traveling from city to city promoting those bonds.<ref name=":0" />

==Variants==
;Spartan 7X Executive
: (Also known as Standard Seven) The first prototype, was fitted with a {{convert|265|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jacobs L-5]] radial engine for the initial flight. All subsequent flights were made with a {{convert|285|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Jacobs L-5]] radial engine. The 7X initially had a very small tail.  Only one was built and after the type certificate was received for the production model 7W, it became a training aid for the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<ref>Savage, Jim. ''Vintage Spartan Aircraft,'' 2022, p.36-44.</ref>
[[File:Spartan 7X Executive with initial small tail in factory.jpg|thumb|Initial design of the Spartan 7X Executive.]]
;Spartan 7W-P Executive
:Second prototype evolved into a three-seat photo reconnaissance model, similar in appearance to the thirty-four 7W production models. The 7W-P was produced in accordance with Type Certificate 646. The sole example, 7WP-1, was exported to China in 1937.<ref name=AAHS>
Berry, Peter. [http://www.aahs-online.org/ "The Spartan Executive: Research Project 7233."] ''AAHS Journal'' (American Aviation Historical Society, Huntington Beach, California), Volume 25, Summer 1980, pp.&nbsp;145–153.</ref>
;Spartan 7W Executive
:Production version powered by a {{convert|450|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp SB|Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior SB]] radial engine. 34 built<ref name=AAHS /> The type certificate associated with the production model 7W Executives is T/C 628.<ref>Savage, Jim. ''Vintage Spartan Aircraft'', 2022, p-11</ref>[[File:Sparexec7W.jpg|thumb|Spartan Executive 7W]]
;Spartan 7W-F
:A concept model that portrayed two-seat armed version with two fixed forward firing guns and one flexibly mounted machine gun in the rear cabin, as well as provision for 10 x 25 pound bombs on wing racks. The program never went beyond producing a concept brochure.<ref name=AAHS /><ref name=":0" />
;Spartan UC-71-SP
:Spartan 7W Executives impressed by the US Army Air Corps.<ref name=AAHS />
;[[Spartan 8W Zeus]]
:Two-seat advanced trainer for military use.<ref name=AAHS /><ref name=":1" />
;Spartan FBW-1
:A concept model that portrayed a combat version of the 8W, with armament. The FB indicated Fighter-Bomber. Like the Spartan 7W-F concept model, the program never went beyond producing a concept brochure.<ref name=":1" />
;
;[[Spartan 12W Executive]]
:Postwar tricycle gear-equipped variant.<ref name=AAHS />

==Operators==
[[File:Spartan Executive 7 (NC17633) arrives RIAT Fairford 10thJuly2014 arp.jpg|thumb|An Executive 7W arrives for the 2014 [[Royal International Air Tattoo]], [[England]]]]

===Military===
;{{China as ROC}}
*[[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]]
The only 7WP photo reconnaissance Spartan built was exported to China and it display identification number  1309. It was damaged beyond repair and captured by the Japanese who displayed it along with other captured Chinese aircraft.<ref name=AAHS />
;{{flag|Spanish Republic}}
*[[Spanish Republican Air Force]]/[[Aviación Nacional]]
At least one example was received by the [[LAPE]] (Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas) to be used as an airliner marked as EC-AGM until requisitioned by the [[Spanish Republican Air Force]] and marked as 30+74. It was later captured by the Nationalists. Several others were purchased by the Republicans.<ref name=AAHS />
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]
Four Spartan Executives were part of the Royal Air Force during World War II.  One example (AX666) was built for [[Ghazi of Iraq|King Ghazi]] of Iraq. The King died just prior to completion of the airplane, so the RAF acquired it. The airplane was used by [[No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF]] but was destroyed in a landing accident in Montrose, Scotland in January, 1941. Three other examples were purchased by the United Kingdom Government in December 1940 and were used to provide refresher training to American pilots who would ultimately go on to serve in the RAF. When used for that purpose at Polaris Flight Academy in Glendale, CA, they continued to carry their U.S. civilian registration numbers of NC17604, NC17617 and NC17630. On January 1, 1943, these three Spartans officially became Royal Air Force aircraft and were given RAF serial numbers KD100, KD101 and KD102. The Spartans were assigned to the RAF Ferry Command in Dorval, Canada. Although based in Canada, they were never part of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They were returned to civilian ownership in the US after the War and all were reregistered with their original civilian registration numbers.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Spartan Executive KD 102.jpg|thumb|Contemporary photo of Spartan Executive S/N 17 as it would have looked while serving in the RAF at Dorval, Canada during WW II.|alt=Spartan Executive KD102]]
;{{USA}}
* [[United States Army Air Corps]]/[[United States Army Air Forces]]
16 examples impressed from civil owners. All but two survived to return to civil service.<ref name=AAHS /><ref name="Spartan Story">Peek and Goodhead 1994</ref>

==Specifications (Spartan 7W Executive)==
[[File:Spartan 7W Executive 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Spartan 7W Executive]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=EAA Spartan<ref name="EAA Spartan">[https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1937-spartan-7w-executive---nc13993 "1937 Spartan 7W Executive - NC13993."] ''EAA Museum''. Retrieved: August 27, 2017.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|capacity=3 or 4 passengers
|length ft=26
|length in=10
|length note=
|span ft=39
|span in=0
|span note=
|height ft=8
|height in=0
|height note=
|wing area sqft=250
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight lb=3400
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=4400
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-985]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled [[radial piston engine]]
|eng1 hp=450
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=variable-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=
|max speed mph=257
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=215
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=1000
|range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=24000
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=1080
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
|avionics=
}}

<!-- ==Notable appearances in media==
All content about the aircraft in fictional and gaming use has been moved to [[Aircraft in fiction, please see [[WP:AIRPOP]]
{{Main|Aircraft in fiction#Spartan Executive}} -->

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[Spartan 8W Zeus]]
* [[Spartan 12W Executive]]

|similar aircraft=
* [[Airspeed Courier]]
* [[Beechcraft 17]]
* [[Clark 46 Duramold]] a.k.a. Fairchild Model 46
* [[Fairchild Model 45]]
* [[Harlow PJC-2]]
* [[Howard DGA-11]], [[Howard DGA-15|DGA-15]]
* [[Junkers Ju 60]]
* [[Lockheed Model 9 Orion]]
* [[Northrop Delta]]

|sequence=
|lists=
* [[List of civil aircraft]]
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[List of aircraft of Canada's air forces]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30 em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Davisson, Budd. "Spartan Executive." ''Air Progress'', March 1971.
* Donald, David. ''Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books;, 1997. {{ISBN|978-1-8560-5375-4}}.
* ''FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet TC628''. Washington, D.C.: Federal Aviation Administration.
* Peek, Chet and George Goodhead. ''The Spartan Story''. Norman, Oklahoma: Three Peaks Publishing, 1994. {{ISBN| 0-943691-16-8}}.
* Taylor, Michael J. H. ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. London: Studio Editions, 1989. {{ISBN|978-1-8517-0324-1}}.
* Savage, Jim. ''Vintage Spartan Aircraft''. Butler, Pennsylvania: 2022. {{ISBN|979-8-21-017985-2}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Spartan Executive}}
* [http://aerofiles.com/_spartan.html Spartan on Aerofiles]

{{Spartan Aircraft Company}}
{{USAF transports}}
{{Spanish liaison aircraft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spartan 7W Executive}}
[[Category:1930s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Spartan Aircraft Company aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1936]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]