By Isle of Wight Observer
A rare ‘Spartan Three-Seater’ aircraft is coming to its birth-place on the Island, and will be homed at the Wight Aviation Museum (WAM), in Sandown, later in the year.
The museum is raising funds through the Spartan project, to bring the 1930s biplane touring and pleasure-flying aircraft back from New Zealand, where it is owned by Rod Hall-Jones.
It was originally built by Spartan Aircraft Ltd, at Woolston, Hampshire, and later taken over by Saunders Roe Ltd, East Cowes.
Just 25 planes were built in the two versions of the plane which had a spruce and plywood fuselage and this ‘Three-Seater II’ was one of six in its second, and last, series.
Recently, Rod’s son, Andrew, who is with the New Zealand Defence Force and just finishing a current tour of duty in Britain, paid the museum a visit.
Andrew was shown around the museum by members of the WAM team, and was impressed with what the team have achieved in just a few years.
Andrew then presented the museum with a signed and dedicated copy of his father’s autobiography, ‘You’ll never make it!’ He said: “I am very pleased to see the museum is developing so well, preserving and displaying artefacts and exhibits from the very rich Isle of Wight aviation heritage.
“I am sure it will be a very fitting place for the Spartan to be displayed.”
Helen Blake, chairman of WAM, said: “It was really lovely to meet Andrew and to show him where the Spartan will be coming home to be on display.”
