View source for Norman Spratt

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'''Norman Channing Spratt''' (1885–1944)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130737883|title = Norman Channing Spratt (1885–1944) – Find a Grave| website=[[Find a Grave]] }}</ref> a native of [[Durban|Durban, Colony of Natal]], was an officer of the [[Royal Flying Corps]] during the [[First World War]] who was involved in aircraft testing at the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]], [[Farnborough Airfield|Farnborough]], United Kingdom. He later served as a group captain in the [[Royal Air Force]]. He was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire]] in 1925.

On 7 December 1913, Spratt, as factory test pilot, crashed [[Royal Aircraft Factory]] [[B.E.2]]a, ''235'', at the [[Farnborough Airfield|Farnborough]] Aerodrome, pilot surviving.<ref name="Cooper, Peter J. 1998, page 280">Cooper, Peter J., "Picking up the Pieces", ''Air International'', Stamford, Lincs., UK, November 1998, Volume 55, Number 5, page 280.</ref>

In 1914, Spratt set a new airspeed record in a [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4]], at 134.5&nbsp;mph, bringing the speed title to the U.K. for the first time.<ref>http://www.mjp.co.uk/erfc/p1r1v4t3/newletters/ERFC_Newsletter_March_2008.pdf{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 14 May 1914, Norman Spratt set a British altitude record of 18,900&nbsp;ft. while flying one of two [[Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5]] reconnaissance designs, the fifth and sixth machines, which were produced as single-seat 'height machines', with long strut-braced extensions on the upper wing, which gave it a span of 57&nbsp;ft 2.39in.<ref name="historyofwar">{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_RAF_RE5.html|title=Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5|publisher=historyofwar.org|access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref>

On 12 August 1914, the sole [[Royal Aircraft Factory]] [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4|S.E.4]], ''[[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|628]]'', crashlanded at 1145&nbsp;hrs. while being flown by Lt. Spratt when one of the wheels collapsed, airframe overturning, sustaining such extensive damage that it was abandoned.<ref>Bruce, J.M., "War Planes of the First World War, Fighters, Volume Two", Doubleday & Company Inc., Garden City, New York, 1968, Library of Congress card number 65-25323, page 72.</ref>

The first [[dogfight]] is believed to have taken place on 28 August 1914, when Spratt, flying a [[Sopwith Tabloid]],<ref name="schoolnet">{{cite web|url=https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWdogfights.htm|title=Dogfights|publisher=Spartacus Educational|access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref> forced down a German [[Albatros C.I]] two-seater. This was an amazing achievement as his Sopwith was not armed.

The prototype [[Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3]] was first test flown by Spratt in 1915.<ref name="Tapper">{{Harvnb|Tapper|1973|pages=52–8}}</ref>

Spratt served as a Group Captain during World War II, but died from ill-health in 1944.

==References==
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===Bibliography===
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*{{cite book |title= Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft since 1913|last= Tapper|first=Oliver |year=1973 |publisher=Putnam Publishing  |location=London |isbn= 0-370-10004-2 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spratt, Norman}}
[[Category:Royal Flying Corps officers]]
[[Category:British test pilots]]
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Durban]]
[[Category:British aviation record holders]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force group captains]]
[[Category:South African test pilots]]