A substitute engine failed during the race, forcing the pilot to land at short notice, and the plane was eliminated.

[1] In 1923, the Royal Aero Club organised the first of a series of annual flying competitions at Lympne, Kent, for single-seat aircraft.

[1] The following year, Supermarine entered the Sparrow for the Two-Seater Light Aeroplane Competition, which was held in late September and early October 1924.

The winner's prize was £2,000 (equivalent to £135,108.57 in 2023)[2] for "the best light plane designed and built in Great Britain, suitable for flying clubs and the private owner".

[3] The Sparrow was Supermarine's earliest design for a landplane, following the company's change of identity from Pemberton-Billing Ltd in 1916.

The aircraft was powered by a 35-horsepower (26 kW) Blackburne Thrush piston engine, with dual controls.

He ensured that the wings were given a high angle of attack, providing the fuselage with an upward kink.

[8] The Air Ministry assessment described the Sparrow as lacking attention to detail — specifically referring to the inadequate design of the landing gear and the excessive number of external controls.

An engine substituted to replace the original machine initially refused to start and then seized, forcing Biard to make an emergency landing.

[3] Re-designated the Sparrow II, the aircraft was rebuilt and re-engined with a 32-horsepower (24 kW) Bristol Cherub III engine.

[11] Sparrow II was 130 pounds (59 kg) heavier and 7 miles per hour (11 km/h) slower than its predecessor.

It failed to pass the racing starting line; due to poor weather conditions,[10] it made a forced landing near Beachy Head on 12 September 1926, with Biard noticing that loose rivets were likely to cause the wings to fall off.