Rearwin Sportster

Design and development

The first variant, a Sportster 7000 first flew on 30 April 1935. It was a two-seat braced high-wing cabin monoplane powered by a LeBlond 5DE or LeBlond 5E radial engine. The 7000 followed by a de luxe and more powerful engined versions, the 8500, 9000-L and 9000-KR. It had a standard tailskid landing gear but was available with floats or skis. In 1937 a new variant appeared the Sportster 9000-W powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Warner Scarab Jr radial engine.

Two Sportster 9000s were impressed into military service during World War II under the designation UC-102.

Variants

Rearwin Sportster 7000

Initial production variant powered by either a 70hp (52kW) LeBlond 5DE or LeBlond 5E radial engine, 75 built.

Rearwin Sportster 8500

Variant with a 85hp (63kW) LeBlond 5DF

Rearwin Sportster 9000-L

Variant with a 90hp (67kW) LeBlond 5F

Rearwin Sportster 9000-KR

Variant powered by a Ken-Royce engine,

Rearwin Sportster 9000-W

Variant powered by a 90hp (67kW) Warner Scarab Jr radial engine, eight built.

Götaverken GV 38

A licence-built version from Sweden, built by AB Götaverken.

Military operators

 Honduras

Honduran Air Force

 New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Specifications (8500)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m)

Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)

Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)

Wing area: 166 ft² (15.42 m²)

Empty weight: 830 lb (376 kg)

Gross weight: 1410 lb (640 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × LeBlond 5DF radial engine, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 116 mph (187 km/h)

Range: 480 miles (772 km)

Service ceiling: 15,200 ft (4635 m)