Swift Aircraft Swift
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Swift | image= | caption= Artist's conception }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Aerobatic two seat light aircraft | national origin=United Kingdom | manufacturer=Swift Aircraft | designer= | first flight=Expected late 2023{{cite web|author=Stephen Bridgewater|publisher=Aero Society |url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/exclusive-swift-progress/ |title=Swift progress|date=11 November 2022}} | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Swift Aircraft Swift is a single engine, conventional light aircraft, seating two in side-by-side configuration. It is being developed in the UK but has yet to fly.
Design and development
The Swift is mostly built from composite materials; flying surfaces and the fuselage are formed from composite sandwiches and the wing and tailplane have carbon fibre spars. It has a low wing of trapezoidal plan with slightly upturned tips, fitted with Frise ailerons and slotted flaps. The rear surfaces are also trapezoidal. There is a trim tab in the elevator and a ground adjustable tab on the rudder.
The cockpit has a fixed windscreen and rearward-sliding canopy and is equipped with dual controls. There is a baggage space behind the side-by-side seats. The Swift has a fixed, tricycle undercarriage with the mainwheels on fuselage mounted, spring steel, cantilever legs. The mainwheels have disc brakes and the nosewheel is steerable. The Swift is designed to accept a range of Textron Lycoming horizontally opposed engines in the power range {{cvt|119|-|194|kW|hp}}, driving a three-bladed propeller.
The Swift program was announced in May 2009. In 2015 Swift Technology Group announced a "multi million pound investment" supporting development of the aircraft and other products,{{Cite news|url = http://www.swiftaircraft.com/News/Swift-Press-Release.aspx|title = Swift Technology Group Secures Private Investment|publisher=Swift Technology Group|accessdate = 15 June 2024|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110171758/http://www.swiftaircraft.com/News/Swift-Press-Release.aspx}} Undated press release.{{Cite magazine|title=Swift gets fresh investment to develop new aircraft| url = https://pilotweb.aero/news/swift-gets-fresh-investment-to-develop-new-aircraft-6252720/ |periodical = Pilot Magazine|date = 12 June 2015|accessdate = 17 August 2015}} and exhibited a static display at AeroExpo UK.{{Cite web|title=Exhibitor List {{!}} AeroExpo UK 2015 {{!}} AeroExpo UK 2015 |url=http://www.aeroexpo.co.uk/exhibitor-list/ |date=15 April 2015 |accessdate=17 August 2015 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415041820/http://www.aeroexpo.co.uk/exhibitor-list/ |archivedate=15 April 2015}}
In 2021, the Royal Air Force announced its intention to become carbon neutral, called Project MONET.{{Cite news|url = https://www.swiftaircraft.com/blog/o5msxn5vp6v60xmf6l8q02o62z86sq|title = Project MONET Announcement|publisher=Swift Technology Group|accessdate = 15 June 2024}} To further this project, the UK MOD awarded a contract in 2023 to develop the Swift as a zero-emission aircraft with a possible implementation date of 2027.{{cite news|author=Paul F. Eden|url=https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2023/07/swift-aircrafts-composite-aerobatic/ |title=UK MoD sees promise in Swift composite aerobatic plane |website=Runway Girl Network|date=31 July 2023|access-date=15 June 2024}} Swift Technology Group have begun experimenting with hemp and flax fibres in the composite panels, as well as alternate fuels, and even electric propulsion.
Variants
;Swift II: Intended to be type certified to EASA CS-23
;Swift M260: Military version of above, which may replace the Grob Tutor T1 in No. 6 Flying Training School RAF
;Swift LSA: Intended to be certified to EASA CS-LSA
;Swift VLA: Intended to be certified to EASA CS-VLA in kit and factory-complete flyaway versions
Specifications (Swift II)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12 Performance estimated.
|prime units?=met
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|capacity=2
|length m=6.565
|length note=
|span m=8.055
|span note=including winglets
|height m=2.015
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|empty weight kg=372
|empty weight lb=
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|max takeoff weight kg=743
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=187 L (49.4 US gal; 41.1 Imp gal)
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Textron Lycoming
|eng1 type= air-cooled flat-six engine
|eng1 kw=194
|eng1 note=
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|prop blade number=3
|prop name=MT-Propeller, constant speed
|prop dia m=
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|max speed kmh=340
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=302
|cruise speed note=at 75% power
|stall speed kmh=93
|stall speed note=flaps down
|never exceed speed kmh=
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|g limits=+6/-4
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|climb rate ms=10.7
|climb rate note=maximum, at sea level
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References
External links
- [https://www.swiftaircraft.com/ Swift Aircraft]