Globe Swift
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| Swift | |
|---|---|
 A Globe Swift reflecting in the sun |
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| Type | Civil aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Globe Aircraft Company/TEMCO |
| Designed by | R.S. Johnson |
| Maiden flight | GC-1A Swift: 1942 |
| Introduction | 1946 |
| Number built | 1,521 (including prototypes)[1] |
| Developed from | Culver Cadet |
| Variants | T-35 Buckaroo |
The Globe Swift (also known as the Globe/Temco Swift), first advertised as the "All Metal Swift", was a light, two-seat sport monoplane of the post-World War II period.
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[edit] Design and development
Designed by R.S. "Pop" Johnson in 1940, the fanciful story of a Culver Cadet obtained as a "template" aircraft has now entered into popular mythology surrounding the aircraft's origins. [2] The design was secured by John Kennedy, president of the Globe Medicine Company, to be built by his new Globe Aircraft Company. World War II interrupted their plans, however, and the 85 hp GC-1A Swift advertised as the "All Metal Swift" re-designed by K.H."Bud" Knox, received its type certificate on 7 May 1946. Two prototypes were built but essentially, the design remained the same as the type entered production. [3] Globe built about 408 GC-1As.
Later that year, the Swift received a more powerful engine of 125 hp, making it the GC-1B. Globe, together with TEMCO, built 833 GC-1Bs in six months. Globe was outpacing sales of the Swift, however, and did not have enough orders to sell all of the aircraft being built. As a result Globe was forced into insolvency. TEMCO being the largest debtor received permission from the "receiver" to obtain the type certificate, tooling, aircraft, and parts to enable them to continue production in late 1947, in the hope that reviving production would enable TEMCO to recover their loss. TEMCO went on to build 260 more aircraft before shutting Swift production down permanently in 1951.
The type certificate for the Swift was obtained by Universal Aircraft (later Univar) along with all production tooling. Spare parts continued to be built until 1979 when the Swift Association under the leadership of President Charlie Nelson was approached to take over the operation. [1]
[edit] Operational history
The Globe/TEMCO Swift is one of the most highly modified production aircraft ever produced. The original base aircraft had a C-85 (85 hp engine) swinging a wooden propeller. Quickly the engine was upgraded to a C-125. Performance was a bit spooky with the C-85, and frankly still lackluster with the C-125. However, over the past 60 years people have shoehorned 145 hp, 150 hp, 160 hp, 180 hp and even 210 hp engines into this cute little aircraft. Combined with upgraded cowlings, canopies and propellers, an upgraded Swift can look startlingly modern, and give many of today's best sport planes a run for their money.
The most unusual variant of the series became a separate design, the TEMCO TE-1 Buckaroo which was built in a short-run first as a contender for a USAF trainer contract, and later ending up in foreign service as a military trainer.[4] In a twist of fate, a number of these trainers have returned to the civil market.
Each Swift should really be considered a unique aircraft, and its performance capabilities should be evaluated separately, because cross airframe comparisons are very difficult. The data below came from the Swift type certificate.
[edit] Specifications (GC-1A) (GC-1B)
[edit] General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 19 ft 8 in (6.00 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
- Height: ft in ( m)
- Wing area: ft² ( m²)
- Empty: varies widely but 1,370lbs is mentioned frequently for large engine conversions(622kg)
- Loaded: 1,570 lb (713 kg) GC-1A
- Loaded: 1,710 lb (776 kg) GC-1B
- Loaded: 1,970 lb (897 kg) with upgraded wing and engine over 160 hp
- Maximum takeoff: Same as loaded weight
- Powerplant: 1x Continental C-85, 85 hp (63 kW) GC-1A
- Powerplant: 1x Continental C-125, 125 hp GC-1B
[edit] Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 mph (208 km/h) level flight or climb
- Maximum speed in dive: 185 mph
- Range: 480 miles (768 km)
- Service ceiling: ft ( m)
- Rate of climb: Not Good ft/min ( m/min)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
- Pounds/Horsepower:18.5 lb/hp GC-1A 13.7 lb/hp GC-1B
[edit] Related content
Related development:
Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence: GC-1A - 85 HP Continental / GC-1B - 125 HP Continental
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Davisson, Budd. "Swiftly, Swiftly: An Appreciation of one of General Aviation's Classic Aircraft." Air Progress, Vol. 45, No. 8, August 1983.
- Lert, Peter. "In The Air: Used Singles Guide." Air Progress, Vol. 48, No. 7, July 1986.
[edit] External links
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