The Spartan Story

Words and photos by Tom Hiett

In March 1928 Oliver Simmonds (Later Sir) left Supermarines to build a small biplane, assisted by my late farther Thomas Hiett, as Foreman.

The aircraft was called a Simmonds Spartan, it had interchangeable wings, tailplane and rudder, to enable repairs to be carried out cheaply.

It was built in a house at 65 Portsmouth Road, Woolston. Most of the employees worked at Supermarine and worked. ‘up at the house’ part time, often working far into the night.

The target was the Kings Cup Race scheduled for 20 -21 July 1928. On completion of the aircraft the windows were taken out to enable the aircraft to go to the Rolling Mills at Weston Lane where it was assembled. It was flown from a field at Butlocks, but nosed over on landing. Repaired at the rolling mills, it was flown at the Kings Cup race but finished way down the field at 73 mph.

Oliver Simmonds took over a shed at the Rolling Mills and formed a company which produced fifty of the Simmonds Spartans. He was assisted by my Father as Foreman and First World War pilot Col. Louis A. Strange MC DSO DFC as chief pilot for the time of the company.

In 1931 the company moved to Cowes where they produced more biplanes and 16 three engined airliners for Spartan Airlines which soldiered on till October 1935 when it became part of United Airways, becoming part of British Airways in 1936.

The employees were given the option to stay on the island with SARO or move to Southampton (Eastleigh Airport)

My Father, with 16 men carried a 56 ft mainspar down to the ferry to Southampton and walked it to Eastleigh.

We (the family) went on the same ferry and went to live at Swathing. Father then cycled to work at the airport.

At odd times on a weekend he took me to work with him and I played hanger pilots on Rapides an DH Express airliners.

A very interesting time for yours truly.

T R Hiett

March 2011.

The first Simmonds Spartan,

G-EBYU, 1928.

The first Simmonds Spartan,

at the Rolling Mills, 1928.

Spartan Arrow G-ABOB

Somerton IOW, 1931.

Spartan Cruiser II

over Cowes, IOW.