Spartan Executive- As a Warbird

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:46 pm

Spartan Aircraft Company, from Tulsa, OK only contributed two internally-designed aircraft to the war effort- the NP-1 for the Navy, and the Executive which was pressed into service as a transport and a trainer. I have only been able to find these two photos of Executives in their war paint. Does anyone else have some photos of Executives during their service, either with the USAAF or the RAF?

Thanks!

kevin

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:02 am

Don't forget the Chinese bird!

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:11 pm

Scott- you mean this one? :lol:

kevin

krlang · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:21 pm

I love the crank down windows!

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:37 pm

Aren't those great? On the inside, they have cranks that look just like those off of a 1930's auto.

kevin

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:37 am

Those window cranks WERE for a 1930's automobile! :shock:

I visited with a fellow who restored an Executive and he told me what brand of auto they came from but I don't remember. Spartan just ordered a batch from the company that made them.

There is also a photo of the Chinese Exec on it's nose in a pond somewhere in China. I've been in the now-demolished hangar (built in 1928, destroyed in the '90s) to the left of the airplane in that photo you posted, Kevin........

I have seen a picture of the UC-71 that was wadded up in Alaska during the war. As far as I know, it's still there.

Scott

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:56 am

Scott-

You mean this one?

Original vintage photo:

And now (photos I think were ganked from the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum's website)

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:54 am

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:08 pm

Any future restoration plans for the wadded Alaska bird? As the motto of the A&P says- I can fix that!

Robbie

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:17 pm

Robbie-

No idea. You'd have to ask them. I don't know if they've done too many restoration projects there or not. It sure would be a big effort. In my mind, that would be a great candidate for a static restoration for the NMUSAF as a UC-71. They don't have one in their collection, IIRC...

kevin

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:09 pm

Looks like a flyer to me. Gary could fix that one in his sleep.

krlang · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:11 pm

Mentioning door handles,
The inside door handle on older Piper Cherokee's were beetle parts.

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:54 pm

Ober- talk about optimistic!

I like your way of thinking, though...

Scott- sorry it took me a bit, but is this the nosed-in China pic you remembered? It was borrowed from Chet Peek's book, The Spartan Story (an excellent read, for those of you who don't have it- go buy it!)

It was apparently first published in an old magazine... the name escapes me at the moment.

kevin

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:39 am

Yup, that is where the Chinese airplane ended up. Chet's book should be required reading for anyone who has a connection to Spartan. I've had my copy for a number of years and still refer to it from time to time, especially the WWII years and the Executive saga.

People have started with less than the Alaskan UC-71, it just takes $$$$$.

Wheels up · **Posted:** Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:56 am

tulsaboy,
Have you seen this one? I would think since it is in Iraq ( I think!) national colors...it could be called a warbird!

Perhaps that's really a bomb under there! :lol:

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Spartan Executive- As a Warbird

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