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{{Short description|Air-launched sounding rocket developed by the United States Navy between 1950 and 1960}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox rocket
|image          = Sparoair II.jpg
|caption        = Sparoair II on F4D
|function       = [[Sounding rocket]]
|manufacturer   = [[Pacific Missile Test Center|Naval Missile Center]]
|country-origin = United States
|height         = {{convert|12|ft|1|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
|diameter       = {{convert|8|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
|mass           = {{convert|315|lb|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
|stages         = Two
|capacities     =
{{Infobox rocket/Payload
|location = {{convert|65|nmi|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
|kilos    = {{convert|40|lb|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
}}
|status         = Retired
|sites          = [[Point Mugu]]
|launches       =
|success        =
|fail           =
|first          = 1960
|last           = 8 July 1965
}}
'''Sparoair''' was a family of air-launched [[sounding rocket]]s developed by the [[United States Navy]] in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Based on the [[AIM-7 Sparrow|Sparrow]] air-to-air missile, three versions of the rocket were developed; although some launches were successful, the system did not enter operational service.
==Sparoair I and II==
Sparoair was developed by the [[Pacific Missile Test Center|Naval Missile Center]], as a two-stage development of the Sparrow III air-to-air missile.<ref name="Bolster">{{cite journal|last=Bolster|first=W.J.|author2=G. C. Googins |year=1969|title=Design, Development and Testing of a Series of Air-Launched Sounding Rockets|journal=Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|volume=6|issue=4|pages=460–465|url=ftp://124.42.15.59/ck/2011-04/165/032/874/240/Design,%2520development,%2520and%2520testing%2520of%2520a%2520series%2520of%2520air-launched%2520sounding%2520rockets..pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgijevDEFpqL4j5TPfnH229Ieu-9WeKmDFisUxBOe2_4zZiRZxq2C01DL7CDNkVG5vuUKp9X4pwgqUgDjSlGmQP4E8uzMK6TOQYdRElRyOXD4TZ9nzUNcce5AoXVnIFyuyfbxKa&sig=AHIEtbS1jwZkZeUWKh9dX8QLa3LPsiWL7g&pli=1|accessdate=2 December 2011|bibcode = 1969JSpRo...6..460B |doi = 10.2514/3.29679 }}</ref><ref name="NAN"/> Propelled by two Sparrow rocket motors mounted in tandem,<ref name="AAS">{{cite book|editor=Jung, Philippe|title=History of Rocketry and Astronautics: proceedings of the Twenty-seventh History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics|series=AAS History Series|volume=22|year=1998|publisher=American Astronomical Society|isbn=978-0-87703-444-5|page=74}}</ref> the Sparoair could be launched from [[McDonnell F3H Demon|F3H (F-3) Demon]] and [[Douglas F4D Skyray|F4D (F-6) Skyray]] fighter aircraft, and was capable of lifting a {{convert|40|lb}} payload to an [[apogee]] of {{convert|65|nmi}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywn0AAAAMAAJ&q=%22Sparoair%22|title=Missiles and Rockets , Volume 21, Part 1|year=1967|publisher=American Aviation Publications|accessdate=2 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="NAN">{{cite journal|last=Pfeiffer|first=Marie|date=September 1962|title=Rockets Probe Mysteries of Upper Air|journal=Naval Aviation News|publisher=Navy Department|location=Washington, D.C.|page=19|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1962/sep62.pdf|accessdate=4 December 2011}}</ref>
The '''Sparoair I''' was the original version of the rocket, launched using an ejection system and a lanyard for firing; after that proved unreliable in flight testing, the '''Sparoair II''' was developed that utilised a rail launch with ignition prior to release from the aircraft.<ref name="Bolster"/> Eight launches of Sparoair II vehicles had been conducted by 1961.<ref name="Bolster"/> Each Sparoair II rocket cost US$6,000.<ref name="NAN"/>
==Sparoair III==
'''Sparoair III''' utilised a redesigned second-stage motor, and could be launched from the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4 Phantom II]]; however, any aircraft capable of launching the Sparrow III AAM could launch the Sparoair.<ref name="Bolster"/>
The Sparoair III utilised the aircraft's [[Low Altitude Bombing System]] (LABS) circuits to initiate launch; the second stage was ignited via a mechanical device armed by the acceleration of the first stage.<ref name="Bolster"/>
The first Sparoair III was launched on 8 July 1965; it proved a partial failure as the second stage failed to ignite. The second launch on 26 May 1966 failed after six seconds of second-stage burn when the vehicle exploded.<ref name="Bolster"/> No further launches were undertaken.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.astronautix.com/fam/sparoair.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026084852/http://www.astronautix.com/fam/sparoair.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2010|title=Sparoair|editor=Wade, Mark|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2 December 2011}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{USN missiles}}
{{Air-launched launchers}}
[[Category:Sounding rockets of the United States]]
[[Category:Equipment of the United States Navy]]