Aériane Swift

The Aériane SWIFT (Swept Wing with Inboard Flap Trim) is an unusual family of aircraft. Originally conceived as a rigid hang glider with sailplane-like performance, it was designed by Bright Star Gliders in collaboration with engineers at Stanford University as a boomerang-shaped wing with fins at its tips. A number of different frames have since been fitted to it, to create a two-seat glider (the Tandem Swift), a self-launching glider (the Swift-PAS), and a motor-glider (the P-Swift). The basic Swift itself is marketed as a foot-launched sailplane, and claims to be unique in this regard. All of the various frames are interchangeable and any can be added to the same basic wing. Aériane first manufactured the SWIFT under licence, but as of 2004^[update] is its only manufacturer. The firm has released a refined version of the wing as the Swift'Lite.

Specifications (Swift'Lite)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: ()
• Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)
• Height: ()
• Wing area: 136 ft² (12.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 106 lb (48 kg)
• *Aspect ratio: 13:1
• Maximum glide ratio: 27:1
• Rate of sink: 118 ft/min (36 m/min)

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Mitchell U-2 Superwing

References

• Dr. Ilan Kroo and Eric Beckman with Brian Robbins, Dr. Steve Morris, and Brian Porter "Development of the SWIFT -- A Tailless Foot-Launched Sailplane", Aeronautics Department, Stanford University, January 1991.
• "Millennium", A detailed report of the flying characteristics of the hybrid followup design to the original SWIFT.