G-ADEL  Spartan Cruiser Mk III                                   (c/n  102)

                          

                                 Developed from the Spartan Cruiser Mk II, only three Cruiser IIIs were built (G-ACYK,
                                 G-ADEL and G-ADEM).        Notable difference was the trousered undercarriage.
                                 Spartan Aircraft had developed their own airline, Spartan Air Lines, flying their own
                                 machines from Heston to the Isle of Wight  from 1933-1935. At one time or another
                                 they had a dozen Cruisers of various marques.  This Cruiser was merged into British
                                 Airways (no relation to the current airline) in September 1935.      The above image
                                 of G-ADEL over Cowes (their headquarters) was gleaned from Saunders Roe Air-
                                 craft in 1947.  G-ADEL was impressed into the RAF in April 1940 as X9432. and
                                 eventually written off.