Rearwin Sportster

Sportster
Rearwin Sportster 9000 displayed in the Drage Airworld museum at Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia in March 1988
Role	Sporting/Touring monoplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Rearwin Aircraft & Engines
First flight	1935
Number built	330+

The Rearwin Sportster is a 1930s American two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Rearwin Aircraft & Engines.

Design and development

The first variant, a Sportster 7000 first flew on 30 April 1935. It was a two-seat braced high-wing cabin monoplane powered by a LeBlond 5DE or LeBlond 5E radial engine. The 7000 followed by a de luxe and more powerful engined versions, the 8500, 9000-L and 9000-KR. It had a standard tailskid landing gear but was available with floats or skis. In 1937 a new variant appeared the Sportster 9000-W powered by a 90hp (67kW) Warner Scarab Jr radial engine.

A single Sportster 7000 was impressed into military service during World War II under the designation C-102A.

Variants

1936 Rearwin 7000

Sportster 7000

Initial production variant powered by either a 70hp (52kW) LeBlond 5DE or LeBlond 5E radial engine, 75 built.

Sportster 8500

Variant with a 85hp (63kW) LeBlond 5DF

Sportster 9000-L

Variant with a 90hp (67kW) LeBlond 5F

Sportster 9000-KR

Variant powered by a Ken-Royce engine,

Sportster 9000-W

Variant powered by a 90hp (67kW) Warner Scarab Jr radial engine, eight built.

Operators

Military operators

Honduras

• Honduran Air Force^{[citation needed]}

New Zealand

• Royal New Zealand Air Force^{[citation needed]}

Specifications (8500)

Data from

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)

References

Bibliography

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
• Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X. 

External links

Media related to Rearwin Sportster at Wikimedia Commons