1940 Spartan 7W Executive
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.
Designed as a target 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.[2] 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.
The interior of the 7W is spacious and features 18 in (46 cm) of slide-back seat room for front-seat passengers, armrests, ash trays, dome lighting, deep cushions, cabin heaters, ventilators, soundproofing, large windows, and interior access to the 100 lb (45 kg) capacity luggage compartment. The interior can be configured for four or five passengers.
As of April 2023 there were 19 Spartan 7Ws and one Spartan 12 remaining on the US Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry.
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, and King Ghazi of Iraq. 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.
(Sources: US Civil Aircraft – Joseph Juptner and Wikipedia)
This particular aircraft has been apart of the Ala Doble Flying Collection since 2021 and currently resides at the Ala Doble Flying Ranch where it is currently in flying condition.
1940 Spartan 7W Executive
- Registration number: 17665
- Serial number: 31
- Accommodations: 4 or 5 seats
- Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney R-985– 450 hp
- Empty weight: 3,400 lb
- Performance:
- Maximum speed: 257 mph
- Cruise speed: 215 mph
- Range: 1,000 mi
- Dimensions:
- Length: 26 ft 10 in
- Wingspan: 39 ft 0 in
- Height: 8 ft 0 in
