Whilst Wall St types and car executives are busily ridding themselves of executive jets, Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson is looking at purchasing two new planes including a rare Simmonds Sparan Series One.

Jackson is the chair of the 14-18 Aviation Heritage Trust, a small group of WW1 collectors that own over 30 aircraft including the only remaining Italian 1913 Caproni Ca 22. Part of the collection is current on display at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim.

Jackson is expected to bid on the Simmonds Sparan Series one because of it’s rich providence. It is the only Simmonds Spartan 1929 flying in the world. Built & designed in the Simmonds Aircraft factory in the U.K. The factory produced only 49 Simmonds Spartans but this aircraft is the only airworthy aircraft (ZK-ABK), the only other aircraft is in bits and pieces. This particular aircraft was built as a three seater in the factory, only 3 of the 49 aircraft were 3 seater factory built.

Simmonds Spartan Series one three seater

LOT A1 – SIMMONDS SPARTAN 1929

(Note: This aircraft was a re-build of the original aircraft that crashed in 1940).

The only Simmonds Spartan 1929 flying in the world. Built & designed in the Simmonds Aircraft factory in the U.K. The factory produced only 49 Simmonds Spartans but this aircraft is the only airworthy aircraft (ZK-ABK), the only other aircraft is in bits and pieces. This particular aircraft was built as a three seater in the factory, only 3 of the 49 aircraft were 3 seater factory built, therefore it is very rare.

Only 49 of these aircraft were built and they were initially used for joy rides at 1 pound sterling for a 10 minute trip. The two passengers would sit in the front with the pilot behind.

Later on other Spartans were manufactured by a different factory (other than Simmonds) of which only 2 of the aircraft made here remain in the world.

It was originally built in 1929 and was purchased by New Zealand Airways in the same year.

The aircraft was used by New Zealand Airways as NZ’s first passenger aircraft, based in the Dunedin-Christchurch region at 5 pounds sterling per hour. New Zealand Airways originally had seven Simmonds aircraft in their fleet.

Of interest is that the designer of the Spartan, Oliver Simmonds, was the aerodynamicst to R J Mitchell (who designed the Supermarine Spitfire) up to 1928 and was heavily involved in the S4 built by Supermarine for air racing. There is a rub off for Oliver as no doubt his work for Supermarine would have featured in the Spitfire design. Possibly this is the reason the Spartan flies so well.

The Test Flying Schedule has been completed and the Certificate of Airworthiness from the Civil Aviation Authority is about to be issued

Registration: ZK-ABK.
Designer: Oliver Simmonds.
Manufacturer: Simmonds Aircraft LTD.
Weston, Southampton, England.
Build date: 29th July 1929.
Serial number: 46.
Production number: 49.
Fleet number: ONE of seven.
Specification: Last of 3 factory built three seaters.
First flight in NZ – Approx. 18/11/1929.
C of A issued: 18/11/1929.
Disposal: 1936.
Rebuilds: FOUR (Engine failures).
Latest Test Flight: October 2008.

Auction estimate $250,000-350,000 NZ Dollars / about $125,000 US – (Note: As of 3/2/2009 the conversion rate for the NZ Dollar is 1 (NZD) = 0.4917 (USD

Related Posts:

• Peter Jackson Talks Lovely Bones (Video)
• Lovely Bones Trailer (Video)
• Weta Podcast: Richard Taylor and Shane Rangi
• Peter Jackson Talks Lovely Bones
• Hobbit Will Be Two Movies But….