Rearwin Sportster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rearwin_Sportster

The Rearwin Sportster is a 1930s American two-seat, high-winged, cabin monoplane
designed and built by Rearwin Aircraft & Engines for sport/touring use.

The Sportster began development while Rearwin was still certifying the previous
model: the Rearwin Speedster. The Speedster had been designed for performance,
so the company focused on another, more basic, model to provide reliable income.
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. The
resulting design first flew on April 30, 1935.

The design of the Rearwin Speedster bore a coincidental resemblance to the
competing Porterfield Flyabout. The Flyabout had started as the Wyandotte Pup,
designed by engineer Noel Hockaday and built by students at Wyandotte High
School. 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 at American 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.


Role
Sporting/Touring monoplane

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Rearwin Aircraft & Engines

Designer
Henry Weeks

First flight
1935

Number built
ca 273

The conventional 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.

Initial versions of the Sportster were powered by a 5-cylinder LeBlond radial
engine of 70-85 hp. The third model of the Sportster offered either the Warner
Scarab or LeBlond radial engine (renamed as a Ken-Royce engine when Rearwin
bought that company). Both produced 90 hp. Initially the engine was left
uncovered but Townend rings and a propeller spinner were an option on the Deluxe
model; a 1939 redesign introduced the streamlined NACA cowling. Range was about
500 miles for all versions.

Variants

All Deluxe models were updated in 1939 to offer NACA cowling, one-piece
windshield, and improved cooling.

Rearwin Sportster 7000
Initial production variant of 1935-1936 powered by either a 70hp (52kW) LeBlond
5DE or LeBlond 5E radial engine, 75 built. A Deluxe model was offered beginning
in 1936 with optional Townend ring, propeller spinner, wheel pants, navigation
lights, and radio.

Rearwin Sportster 8500
Variant with an 85hp (63kW) LeBlond 5DF introduced in 1935. The plane's gross
weight decreased by 85lbs. A Deluxe model was offered beginning in 1936 with
optional Townend ring, propeller spinner, wheel pants, navigation lights, and
radio.

Rearwin Sportster 9000/Rearwin Sportster 9000-W
Introduced in 1937 powered by a 90hp Warner Scarab engine. A Deluxe model was
offered with optional Townend ring, propeller spinner, wheel pants, navigation
lights, and radio.

Rearwin Sportster 9000-L/Rearwin Sportster 9000-KR
Introduced in 1937 powered by a 90hp LeBlond 5DF (renamed Ken-Royce 5DF after
the LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation was sold to Rearwin Airplanes). A Deluxe
model was offered with optional Townend ring, propeller spinner, wheel pants,
navigation lights, and radio.

Rearwin Sportster 9000-KRT
Sportster 9000-KR modified by Rearwin into an instrument trainer.

Götaverken GV-38
Designation of about 12 Sportster 9000-W built by the Swedish A. B. Götaverken
Shipbuilding Company between 1938 and 1943. One (SE-AHG) was refitted with a
horizontally-opposed Continental O-190.

UC-102
Designation of two Sportster 9000s impressed into military service during World
War II

Specifications (8500)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Wing area: 166 ft2 (15.42 m2)
Empty weight: 830 lb (376 kg)
Gross weight: 1410 lb (640 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × LeBlond 5DF radial engine, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 116 mph (187 km/h)
Range: 480 miles (772 km)
Service ceiling: 15,200 ft (4635 m)




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