| Sportster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Rearwin Sportster 9000 displayed in the Drage Airworld museum atWangaratta,Victoria, Australia in March 1988 | |
| Role | Sporting/Touring monoplane Type of aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Rearwin Aircraft & Engines |
| Designer | Henry Weeks |
| First flight | 1935 |
| Number built | ca 273 |
TheRearwin Sportster is a 1930sAmerican two-seat, high-winged, cabin monoplane designed and built byRearwin Aircraft & Engines for sport/touring use.
The Sportster began development while Rearwin was still certifying the previous model: theRearwin Speedster. The Speedster had been designed for performance, so the company focused on another, more basic, model to provide reliable income.[1]: 123 [2] This model was to become the Sportster, with design work beginning in 1934.
As the Rearwin company was occupied trying to certify the Speedster, initial work was contracted out to Henry Weeks of Stevenson-Weeks Air Service.[3] The resulting design first flew on April 30, 1935.[1]: 125–127
The design of the Rearwin Speedster bore a coincidental resemblance to the competingPorterfield Flyabout. The Flyabout had started as theWyandotte Pup, designed by engineer Noel Hockaday and built by students atWyandotte High School.[4] Ed Porterfield had seen the finished design, bought the rights to it, started the Porterfield company to build it, and hired Hockaday to develop the plane into the Flyabout. Hockaday had previously assisted engineer Douglas Webber atAmerican Eagle Aircraft Corporation, both of whom later moved to Rearwin Aircraft. Their influence at Rearwin resulted in design elements that were used in the Sportster, thus resembling the Hockaday-designed Flyabout.[1]: 101, 127–128
In 1936, the Sportster was certified to take pontoons at the request ofGeorge B. Cluett. This required enlarging the vertical tail after the test aircraft nearly failed to recover from aflat spin.[1]: 130–131 The final modifications to the Sportster occurred in 1939 to reinvigorate sales. The demands of World War II forced production of the Sportster to cease in 1941.[1]: 141
The Sportster was a two-seat braced high-wing cabin monoplane. The pilot and passenger were seated in tandem. Both seats had flight controls, but only the pilot had an instrument panel.[5]
Theconventional landing gear used a fixed tail-skid instead of tailwheel and came without brakes at first, although a tailwheel and brakes were later offered as options. Skis and pontoons were also available options, although the Sportster's vertical tail had to be enlarged to maintain its spin certification in case pontoons were fitted. A Deluxe model included wheel pants, navigation lights, radio, and optional skylights; later modifications to the design included a one-piece windshield.[1]: 129–130, 141
Initial versions of the Sportster were powered by a 5-cylinderLeBlond radial engine of 70-85 hp. The third model of the Sportster offered either theWarner Scarab or LeBlond radial engine (renamed as aKen-Royce engine when Rearwin bought that company). Both produced 90 hp. Initially the engine was left uncovered butTownend rings and apropeller spinner were an option on the Deluxe model; a 1939 redesign introduced the streamlinedNACA cowling. Range was about 500 miles for all versions.[1]: 130–131, 141
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All Deluxe models were updated in 1939 to offer NACA cowling, one-piece windshield, and improved cooling.
United States[1]: 142 Numerous models of the Sportster survive in museums. Ken Rearwin purchased the prototype Sportster and donated it to theAirpower Museum in Blakesburg, Iowa.[9]
Data from[10]
General characteristics
Performance
Media related toRearwin Sportster at Wikimedia Commons
