The prototype Sprite, named the Pilot Sprite, was designed by a team at Loughborough University as a British two-seat homebuilt training or touring monoplane for amateur construction. The design had been begun as a magazine-sponsored project by Peter Garrison, who worked for Pilot at the time; when the project did not move forward rapidly enough to suit him, he returned to the United States, where he modified his design into what would become his first Melmoth.
An all-metal side-by-side low-wing cantilever monoplanes with tricycle landing gear. The Sprite was powered by a Rolls-Royce Continental O-240-A piston engine.
It was the winning entry in a competition sponsored by Pilot magazine in 1968.
Plans for amateur building were marketed by Practavia Ltd as the Practavia Sprite.
First flying in 1971, eight are known to have been built.
Engine: 1 × Rolls-Royce Continental O-240-A, 130 hp (97 kW)
Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.09 m)
Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Empty weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
Gross weight: 1,400 lb (635 kg)
Cruise speed: 128 mph (205 km/h, 111 kn)
Crew: 1 (pilot)
Capacity: 1 (passenger)
All Aero 