Spartan Air Lines Ltd
Encyclopedia
Spartan Air Lines Ltd was a British private airline company, in the period 1933-1935. In 1933, it started operating passenger services from the London area to the Isle of Wight
. In late 1935 it merged with United Airways Ltd to form British Airways Ltd.
. The company was financed by Whitehall Securities Ltd, and services to the Isle of Wight were to be operated in co-operation with private railway companies. The managing director was W.D.L. Roberts, with Harold Balfour and Alliott Verdon-Roe as fellow directors, and Mr P.W. Lynch-Blosse as chief pilot.
On 12 April 1933, the first service was started from Heston Aerodrome
to Somerton (Cowes West) Aerodrome, Cowes
, Isle of Wight
, using three Spartan Cruisers.
After a winter break in scheduled operations, the airline moved to Croydon Aerodrome for the summer 1934 season, in collaboration with Railway Air Services
.
In April 1935, Spartan Air Lines returned to Heston, operating services to both Cowes and Bembridge
, again in collaboration with Railway Air Services. A sister company in the Spartan group, United Airways Ltd, had been formed in 1934 to operate connecting services from Heston to the Isle of Man
via Stanley Park Aerodrome (Blackpool)
for the 1935 season.
On 30 September 1935, Spartan Air Lines and United Airways were merged to form Allied British Airways Ltd, and on 29 October 1935 that was renamed British Airways Ltd. The new airline started operations on 1 January 1936, initially based at Heston.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. In late 1935 it merged with United Airways Ltd to form British Airways Ltd.
History
Spartan Air Lines Ltd was formed on 2 February 1933, as a subsidiary of Spartan Aircraft Ltd, to develop the use of its product the Spartan CruiserSpartan Cruiser
|-See also:-External links:******...
. The company was financed by Whitehall Securities Ltd, and services to the Isle of Wight were to be operated in co-operation with private railway companies. The managing director was W.D.L. Roberts, with Harold Balfour and Alliott Verdon-Roe as fellow directors, and Mr P.W. Lynch-Blosse as chief pilot.
On 12 April 1933, the first service was started from Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome was a 1930s airfield located to the west of London, UK, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex...
to Somerton (Cowes West) Aerodrome, Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, using three Spartan Cruisers.
After a winter break in scheduled operations, the airline moved to Croydon Aerodrome for the summer 1934 season, in collaboration with Railway Air Services
Railway Air Services
Railway Air Services was a British airline formed in March 1934 by four railway companies and Imperial Airways. The airline was a domestic airline operating routes within the United Kingdom linking up with Imperial's services....
.
In April 1935, Spartan Air Lines returned to Heston, operating services to both Cowes and Bembridge
Bembridge
Bembridge is an affluent village and civil parish located on the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight. It had a population of 3,848 according to the 2001 census of the United Kingdom, leading to claims by residents that Bembridge is the largest village in England, and occasional claims that it is...
, again in collaboration with Railway Air Services. A sister company in the Spartan group, United Airways Ltd, had been formed in 1934 to operate connecting services from Heston to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
via Stanley Park Aerodrome (Blackpool)
Stanley Park Aerodrome (Blackpool)
Stanley Park Aerodrome was an airfield located in the Stanley Park area of Blackpool, Lancashire England which was in use for civil and military flying from 1929 until closure of the airfield in 1947...
for the 1935 season.
On 30 September 1935, Spartan Air Lines and United Airways were merged to form Allied British Airways Ltd, and on 29 October 1935 that was renamed British Airways Ltd. The new airline started operations on 1 January 1936, initially based at Heston.
Spartan Air Lines Fleet
From Jackson (1974), Doyle (2002)| Type | Registration | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan Three Seater | G-ABTR | 1933–1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser I | G-ABTY | 1933–1934 | |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACBM | 1934–1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACDW | Faithful City | 1934 |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACDX | Hampshire | 1933–1935 |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACSM | Sussex | 1934–1935 |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACVT | Middlesex | 1934–1935 |
| Spartan Cruiser II | G-ACZM | 1934–1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser III | G-ACYK | 1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser III | G-ACYL | 1934–1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser III | G-ADEL | 1935 | |
| Spartan Cruiser III | G-ADEM | 1935 | |
| Saro A.19 Cloud Saro Cloud |-See also:-References:*Doyle, Neville. 1991. From Sea-Eagle to Albatross: Channel Island Airlines 1923-1939. ISBN 185421103X*Doyle, Neville. 2002. The Triple Alliance: The Predecessors of the first British Airways. Air-Britain. ISBN 0851302866... |
G-ABXW | Cloud of Iona | 1935 |
| DH.84 Dragon De Havilland Dragon |-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5... |
G-ACNG | 1935 | |
| DH.84 Dragon | G-ACNI | 1935 | |