The Arrow "Sport" series from Arrow Aircraft and Motors of the United States was developed by Swedish aircraft designer Swen Swanson (1897-1935) as a sporting biplane. The design seated a pilot and passenger in a side-by-side, open-cockpit arrangement and utilized a conventional "over-under" cantilever plane arrangement - the upper members connected only at the forward fuselage with no other method of bracing used. The fuselage was well-streamlined to maximize aerodynamic efficiency while a "tail-dragger" configuration was used in ground-running actions.
First flown in 1926, the Arrow Sport proved popular during the Depression period in America though the lack of additional, visible support structures at the wings unnerved enough pilots that "N" shaped struts were eventually added to the design by the manufacturer - these serving no structural or load-bearing role.
The original model was aptly named "Sport" and carried a 60 horsepower LeBlond air-cooled radial piston engine driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose. The "Sport 85" followed with an 85 horsepower engine installation and had the lower wings revised with +4 degrees of dihedral. The "Sport A2" series encompassed several sub-variants including the A2-40, A2-60 (with 60hp LeBlond radial), A2-66, A2-90 "Tangerine", and the A2-100 (with 100hp Kinner C-5 engine).
The popular A2-60 had a running length of 19.2 feet, a wingspan of 25.9 feet, and a height of 7.4 feet. Empty weight was 900 lb against a gross weight of 1,345lb. The LeBlond 5D radial engine (outputting 60 horsepower) drove the aircraft to speeds of 100 miles-per-hour while cruising was typically done at 85 mph or less. The aircraft had a rated stall speed of just 30 mph. Range was out to 200 miles on internal fuel stores and its service ceiling reached 14,000 feet.
The "Sport Pursuit" (also "Sport K") appeared in 1935 and carried the 100 horsepower Kinner-branded K-5 radial engine. The "Sport V-8" (also the "Model F") appeared in monoplane form now fitted with a Ford V8 automobile engine of 82 horsepower. An offshoot of this offering was the "Sport M" which switched to the Menasco C-4 "Pirate" engine of 125 horsepower.
Beyond their inherent sporting capabilities, the Arrow Sport line also excelled in the flight trainer for some. The series proved a modest success for the period as production ended around 100 or so examples before the end. Manufacture peaked in 1931 and dwindled as the decade wore on - eventually just a few ended in preservation.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
MULTI-WINGED
Addition of more mainplanes to enhance inherent agility, providing a tactical edge in tight engagements.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
Length
19.3 ft (5.87 m)
Width/Span
25.8 ft (7.87 m)
Height
7.4 ft (2.26 m)
Empty Wgt
904 lb (410 kg)
MTOW
1,345 lb (610 kg)
Wgt Diff
+441 lb (+200 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the A2-60 production variant)
biplane / over-under / straight
Biplane
Design utilizes a dual-plane wing arrangement in which one mainplane member is seated above the other; biplanes enhance agility at the expense of added drag.
Over-Under
Dual mainplane configuration seating the members in an over-under fashion and poisitoned at different points along the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the A2-60 production variant)
Installed:
1 x LeBlond 5D air-cooled radial piston engine developing 60 horsepower driving two-bladed propeller at the nose.
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