Unidentified "Spartan" at Sherburn in Elmet.
On Sunday, 31st May 1931 the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club held an air pageant at their aerodrome site at Sherburn in Elmet. Many thousands of people visited to see various aeroplanes doing flying exhibitions and pilots competing in races. During the opening flypast of all machines a "Spartan" broke a strut which enabled part of the lower wing to flap loosely. The pilot landed without incident. Various newspapers covered the pageant and all were very guarded on identifying the aeroplane involved. At this event F/Lt Stainforth flew and also later raced a Spartan, as did F/Lt J G Gibbons, of Calshot.
Pilot - Name unknown.
Three types of Spartans were in existance by 1931. The Simmonds Spartan, the Spartan Arrow and the Spartan Three Seater.