Globe Swift

infobox Aircraft
name = Swift
type = Civil aircraft
manufacturer =Globe Aircraft Company/TEMCO



caption = Globe Swift
designer =R.S. Johnson
first flight =GC-1A Swift: 1942
introduction =1946
retired =
number built =1,521 (including prototypes)Davisson 1983, p. 71.]
status =
unit cost =
primary user =
more users =
developed from =Culver Cadet
variants with their own articles = 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.

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. [Davisson 1983, p. 67.] 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. [Davisson 1983, p. 69.] 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 Industries (later Univair) 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.

Operational history

The Globe/TEMCO Swift has seen many modifications. It began life with an C-85 (85 hp) engine driving a wooden propeller. Within a year the engine was upgraded to a C-125, turning a metal propeller. Performance had been marginal with 85 hp, and only moderate with 125 hp, so many owners have installed more powerful engines, such as 145 hp, 150 hp, 160 hp, 180 hp and even 210 hp. 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 aircraft contract, and later ended up in foreign service as a military trainer.Davisson 1983, p. 70.] Several of these trainers have since returned to the civil market.

The data below came from the Swift type certificate. Later modifications would result in alterations to these specifications.

pecifications (GC-1A) (GC-1B)

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 (93 kW) GC-1B

Performance

* Maximum speed: 140 mph (208 km/h) level flight
* Maximum speed in dive: 185 mph
* Range: 480 miles (768 km)
* Service ceiling: ft ( m)
* Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
* Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
* Pounds/Horsepower:18.5 lb/hp GC-1A 13.7 lb/hp GC-1B

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: GC-1A - 85 HP Continental / GC-1B - 125 HP Continental

References

Notes

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.

External links

* [http://members.napanet.net/~arbeau/swift/ The Globe Temco Swift Homepage]
* [http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acdata_php/acdata_swiftgc1_en.php Specs & Photo at flugzeuginfo.net]