Designed by James Ford in 1935, the 7X Executive (Standard Seven) prototype of the 7 series (X/NC13984] c/n 0) featured a small tail and long dorsal fin. First flying on 19 February 1935, it was reportedly delivered to Mexico.
A total of 34 were built in the US between December 1935 and March 1940. The first flew on 19 March 1935, powered by a 285hp Jacobs, but all production aircraft were powered by the Pratt & Whitney 985 Wasp Junior.
The Spartan 17W Executive (ATC 628) was comparable to the D17S in speed, weights and cabin size, and it was powered by the same reliable Pratt & Whit¬ney. It was well liked by pilots, and being an all metal, low wing monoplane, was of more modern design than the Beech. Despite one less wing, however, it was no faster. The Executive never really had a chance to compete, though. Spartan was expecting to get a Government contract for a biplane trainer and in 1940 stopped production of the Executive to de¬vote all its facilities to that purpose. The con¬tract never came, and only 34 Exec¬utives were ever built, selling from $23,500.
One Spartan Executive 4/5-seat all-metal monoplane of 1936 was converted in 1938 to Zeus 2-seat military type as the 7W-F NX17605=42-68361 c/n 10 for military acceptance tests. Two guns were mounted in the nose and one in an open station aft, plus wing racks for ten 25lb bombs. It was later converted back to 7W.
The 7W-P Executive of 1936 (ATC 646) was a three-place customized 7W (NX13986 c/n P-1) first flown on 14 September 1936. Fitted with a 400hp P&W Wasp, it was exported to China.
Sixteen were conscripted by AAF during WW2 as UC-71 (42-38265 to 38269, 42-38367 to 38369, 42-38287 to 38288, 42-43846, 42-57514 to 57515, 42-68361, and 42-78037), of which the first 11 were impressed, all but 2 returned to civil use.
YI-SOF c/n 7W-19 was a $30,000 customized job in 1939 for King Ghazi of Iraq (including a regal throne) as Eagle of Iraq, in turn went to RAF in 1940.
7W Executive
Engine: Pratt & Whitney Wasp SB Junior, 450 hp
Wingspan: 39’0″
Length: 26’10”
Useful load: 1413 lb
Max speed: 212 mph
Cruise: 190 mph
Stall: 57 mph
Range: 900 mi
Seats: 5
Undercarriage: retractable
7X Executive (Standard Seven)
Engine: 285hp Jacobs L-5
Wing span: 39’0″
Length: 26’8″
Max speed: 160 mph
Cruise: 150 mph
Stall: 45 mph
Range: 800 mi
Seats: 4
Spartan Registrations
X13984, 0 – disposition uncertain
X13986, P-1 – exported to China July 1937
NC13992, 1 – > X-ABES
NC13993, 2 – > N13993
NC13994, 3 – > X-ABEW
NC13997, 4 – > X-ABEX
NC13998, 5 – > X-ACFX
NC17601, 6 – > NC/N17601 > N2LL
NC17602, 7 – crash-landed in AK, abandoned June 2, 1944
NC17603, 8 – > X-BBAX; destroyed(?) Aug 1939
NC17604, 9 – > KD100 (RAF); salvaged for parts Mar 1952
NC17605, 10 – > 42-68361 > NC/N17605; 1938 Bendix race (?)
NC17612, 8W-1 – disposition uncertain
NC17613, 12 – > 42-38265 > NC/N17613
NC17614, 13 – > 42-38269 > NC/N17614 > N13PH
NC17615, 14 – > 42-38368 > NC/N49075 > N111PB > N22PJ > N17615
NC17616, 15 – > 42-57515 > NC236 > NC/N836
NC17617, 16 – > KD101 (RAF) > NC/N17617
NC17630, 17 – > KD102 (RAF) > NC/N17630 > N1MJ
NC17631, 18 – > 42-38267 > NC/N4444 > N3LL > N4444
NC17632, 20 – > 42-57514; crashed Nov 17, 1942
NC17633, 21 – > 42-38367 > NC/N17633
NC17655, 24 – > 42-38268 > NC17655; crashed Apr 11, 1952
NC17656, 25 – > 42-38288 > NC/N17656 > N47W
NC17657, 26 – > 42-38266 > NC17657 > N46481 > YVT-VTC > N5053
NC17658, 27
NC17659, 22 – > N17659; damaged by fire July 8, 1974, rebuilt c.1980
NC17661, 23 – > 42-78037 > NC58300; crashed Oct 20, 1946
NC17662, 28 – N17662
NC17663, 29 – crashed May 21, 1942
NC17664, 30 – > 42-38369 > NC/N17664 > N97DC
NC17665, 31 – > 42-38287 > NC/N46426 > N17665; crash-landed Sep 26, 1971, rebuilt
NC17666, 32 – destroyed in a fire Apr 1949
NC17667, 33 – > 42-38286; wrecked Oct 1, 1942
NC17668, 34 – > N668MD > N1667D > N34SE
NC20200, 11 – > 42-43846 > N20200
NX21962, 12-1 – > N21962
no US reg, 19 – > YI-SOF > AX666 (RAF); a became training aid in 1941
All Aero 