Spartan Executive - Model 7W


For the owner who seeks "INDIVIDUALITY" - Recognized in the airports of the world as the most distinguished of all private planes, the SPARTAN "Executive" is the fulfillment of everything the discriminating man looks for in personal transportation: the exciting beauty of thoroughbred design... the luxury of ultra smart custom-built interiors... the security of an all metal masterpiece equipped with every refinement that adds to performance and safety... flying ease that amazes even veteran airman! The more excacting your demands, the more you owe it to yourself to investigate the "Executive." SPARTAN AIRCRAFT COMPANY, TULSA, OKLAHOMA
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Welcome to the Spartan Executive page. Have you wondered how many of these vintage airplanes have survived the test of time? Who cares for these aviation treasures? What is their current condition? Where are they based? Here you will find pictures of the Spartan 7W and a brief history of each aircraft. If you can provide more information and pictures please email us

Special thanks to Roger Cain, Brian Marshall, Chet Peek, Jim Savage, William Parrish, Russell Williams and the owners who have supplied information and photos. For more reading on the Spartan see the book THE SPARTAN STORY by Chet Peek.
S/N 1, NC13992 - The prototype 7W. Built 12/15/1935. Exported to Mexico, then sent to Spain for use in their civil war.
S/N 2, NC13993 - Built 11/30/1936. First sold to A.D. Olson Drilling Co. of OK. Was impressed into USAAF service from 1942-44. The only Executive with stick controls. On static display at Pioneer Airport, Oshkosh, WI - this is not the original Mrs. Mennen (S/N 34 is the real one) but is painted as Mrs. Mennen.
S/N 3, NC13994 (X-ABEW) - Built 12/15/1936. Exported to Mexico. Fate unknown.
S/N 4, NC13997 (X-ABEX) - Built 3/21/1937. Exported to Mexico. Fate unknown.
S/N 5, NC13998 (X-ACFX) - Built 4/15/1937. Exported to Mexico. Fate unknown.
S/N 6, NC17601 (N2LL) - Built 4/30/1937. First sold to Lee Drilling Co. of OK. Was impressed into USAAF service from 1943-44. Registered as flying with John Okeefe based in Winthrop, Washington.
S/N 7, NC17602 - Built 5/30/1937. Originally sold/loaned for use in President Rossevelt's 1937 Infantile Paralysis campaign, named "New Hope." Later sold to Claude Drilling Co. of OK. Crashed landed in Alaska 1944. Stored outside for many years at museum in Anchorage. Moved to inside storage.
S/N 8, NC17603 (X-BBAX) - Built 8/7/1938. Flew with United Sugar Co. in Mexico. Crash in Mexico. Remains recovered for possible future rebuild.
S/N 9, NC17604 - Built 7/24/1937. Sold to Lucey Products Co. of OK. Used in 1940 for RAF training in Lancaster, CA. Later trasfered to UK and used in RAF Ferry Command. At some point carried registration in Royal Canadian Air Force S/N KD100. One source notes salvaged for parts March 1952.
S/N 10, NC17605 - Built 11/1/1937. Remained in company inventory for over a year then sold to Bodine Drilling Co. of KS. Flown by Arlene Davis in 1939 Bendix Trophy in 196 MPH! Registered to James Turrell, Flagstaff, Arizona. AAF serial number 42-68361 worn during war time service.
S/N 11, N20200 - Built 9/7/1937. Sold to Halliburton in Duncan, OK. Owned and flown by Steve Marini of California. Recently restored. Visit this web site for more photos! AAF serial number 42-43846 worn during war time service.
S/N 12, NC17613 - Built 11/15/1937. Sold first to American Manufacturing Co. of TX. Owned and flown by John Venaleck, Painsville, Ohio. AAF serial number 42-38265 worn during war time service.
S/N 13, NC13PH (NC17614) - Built 11/14/1937. First sold to Standard Oil Co. of OH. Registered to Thomas Hartness of Greenville, SC. Currently under restoration. Visit this web site for photos of the restoration. AAF serial number 42-38269 worn during war time service.
S/N 14, NC17615 (N49075, 111PB, N22PJ) - Built 2/15/1938. Retained by the factory until purchased by A.J. Olson in 1940. Seen in John Wayne movie "Overland Stage Raiders." Previously owned by James Patterson of Louisville, KY. Restored (in 1995) to grey/grey trim paint scheme. Sold in 2008 to Nigel Pickard, who now owns two Spartan's based in England. AAF serial number 42-38368 worn during war time service.
S/N 15, NC17616 (NC236, N836) - Built 3/30/1938. Sold to Condor Petroleum Co. in TX. Reportedly flown by a number of famous pilots, including Howard Hughes. FLown by the CAA in 1943 in the Washington D.C. area. Was restored by Ken and Lorraine Morris of Poplar Grove, Illinois. Current owner listed as Redman Co. based in Nye, Montana. AAF serial number 42-57515 worn during war time service.
S/N 16, N17617 - Built 4/30/1938. Sold to Seismograph Service Co. in OK. Later flown with the RAF in CA. At somepoint it carried Royal Canadian Air Force S/N KD101. Registered to Triple C Aviation in Scottsdale, AZ.
S/N 17, NC17667 (NC17630, N1MJ) - Built 2/22/1939. Sold to Claude Drilling Co. of OK. Later flown with the RAF in CA as KD102. Registered as N1MJ when owned by Malcomb Jacobs. Owned by and displayed at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Texas for a few years. Flown to many airshows and published in many aviation magazines when owned by Kent and Sandy Blankenburg. When trying to return to the original number (S/N 17 was NC17630 but that is used on the P-38 "GlacierGirl") so NC17667 was used. Current owners are Jim and Anita Savage based in Butler, PA.
S/N 18, N4444 (NC17631, N3LL) - Built 3/22/1939. Owned by John Cournoyer based in St. Louis. Under restoration 2007-2008. AAF serial number 42-38267 worn during war time service.
S/N 19, no US registration - Built 5/8/1939. First sold to King Ghazi of Iraq (YI-SOF) as the "eagle of Iraq." Impressed into Royal Air Force as S/N AX666 - became training aid in 1941 after bad landing at Montrose, Scotland.
S/N 20, NC17632 - Built 4/21/1939. First sold to Wynn-Crosby Drilling Co. of TX. Wrecked and burned at Mooresville, SC in 1942. AAF serial number 42-57514 worn during war time service.
S/N 21, NC17633 - Built 7/29/1939. First sold to Red Rock Glycerin Co. of TX. Named "The Rocket." Owned by for many years by Colgate Darden. Summer 2008 flown to new owner, Nigel Pickard in England. AAF serial number 42-38367 worn during war time service.
S/N 22, NC17659 - Built 2/23/1940. First sold to Standard Oil Company of Ohio. Later damaged and burned when engine failed during take-off at Hawthorne, CA in 1974. Then fully restored by same owners in California. Then sold to new owner in New Mexico, then to Sierra Aviation, Inc. in Ohio, then to present owner, Collectible Aircraft, in Arizona in 2007.
S/N 23, NC17661 (NC58300) - Built 2/7/1940. First sold to J.I. Roberts Drilling Co. of LA. Later sold to Texas Pipeline Co. for survey work. Crashed October 1946. AAF serial number 42-78037 worn during war time service.
S/N 24, NC17655 - Built 8/24/1939. First sold to Thompson Management of NY. Later sold to Frontier Fuel Oil Co. Crashed April 1952. AAF serial number 42-38268 worn during war time service.
S/N 25, N47W (NC17656) - Built 10/31/1939. First sold to Luziers of MS. Owned and flown by Paul Mantz from 1945-1950. Registered to Lawrence Smith of Collinsville, Connecticut. Down awaiting engine maintenance. AAF serial number 42-38288 worn during war time service.
S/N 26, N5053 (NC17657, N46481) - Built 11/2/1939. First sold to Iowa newspaper, the Des Moines Register and Tribune. Named "Good News VII." Currently owned and flown by Bobby Lett of Dallas. AAF serial number 42-38266 worn during war time service.
S/N 27, NC17658 - Built 12/14/1939. First sold to Thompson Equipment in 1940. Currently owned and flown by Wayne Duncan, Athol, Idaho
S/N 28, NC17662 - Built 3/7/1940. Kept by Spartan as company transport until 1968. Currently owned and flown by Ron Tarrson of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Restored in 2004-2005. Down awaiting repairs mid-2008.
S/N 29, NC17663 - Built 3/26/1940. First sold to Corning Glass Works of NY. Crashed near Harrisburg, PA in 1942.
S/N 30, NC17664 (N97DC) - Built 4/24/1940. First sold to aircraft dealer. Currently owned and flown by Burton Bucher of Waukegan, Illinois. Recently repainted in Texaco colors. AAF serial number 42-38369 worn during war time service.
S/N 31, NC17665 (NC46426) - Built 5/17/1940. First sold to B.K. Douglas of NY. Currently owned and flown by Gigi Brisson, CA. AAF serial number 42-38287 worn during war time service.
S/N 32, NC17666 - Built 6/12/1940. First purchaser was VTC Airlines in Kentucky. Destroyed by fire April 1949
S/N 33, NC17667 - Built 7/10/1940. First sold to Standard Oil Co. of OH. Wrecked October 1942. AAF serial number 42-38286 worn during war time service.
S/N 34, N34SE (NC17668, N668MD, N1667D) - Built 9/9/1940. Last Executive built. First sold to Texaco in 1940 for use in NY area. Flown as Mrs. Mennen. Passed through many owners and then returned to the Mennen family. Currently owned and flown by William Mennen. Visit this very detailed web site with the history of Mrs. Mennen
NX21962 - Related to the Executive is the Spartan Model 12. Restored and static with owner in California.
Related to the Executive is the "Zeus." Designed as a two-plane attack bomber.

last updated September 2009