Gloster Sparrowhawk Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

Gloucestershire Aircraft Company, Cheltenham

First Flight:

1921

Sparrowhawk I:

30 - Gloucestershire Aircraft Company

Sparrowhawk II:

11 - Gloucestershire Aircraft Company

Sparrowhawk III:

10 - Gloucestershire Aircraft Company

Type Specification

Applies to:

Gloster Sparrowhawk I

Type:

Landbased naval fighting scout for Japanese Navy

Wing:

Two bay biplane with staggered, unswept equal span wings. Wooden structure with fabric covering. Ailerons on all four wings

Fuselage:

Fuselage mounted on lower fuselage is of wooden structure with fabric covering

Tail Unit:

Braced monoplane tail with split elevators together with single swept fin and balanced rudder

Landing Gear:

Crossaxle type main gear with legs attached to fuselage lower longeron. Tail skid is on base of fin

Power Plant:

One 230 hp Bentley B.R.2 nine cylinder rotary engine driving a two blade propeller

Accommodation:

Single seat for pilot aft of upper wing in open cockpit

Armament:

Two Vickers .303 machine gune mounted in top of engine cowling

Span:

27 ft 11 in

Length:

19 ft 8 in

Height:

10 ft 6 in

Wing Area:

270 sq ft

Empty:

1,698 lb

Loaded:

2,029 lb

Max Speed:

127 mph at sea level

Climb:

21 min to 15,000 ft

Service Ceiling:

17,060 ft

Range:

300 miles

Preserved in British Museums

Web Sites