Warbird Information Exchange

Hey Gang,

just the other day I went flying with a friend of mine from the Canadian Museum of Flight. His name's Bill Findley and he is one of the CMF pilots, as well as part owner of a Harvard Mk IV, and full owner of a Globe Swift.

About a year ago I had put in the winning bid for a flight with Bill in his Swift at the CMF's annual fundraising auction. I was entitled to a one hour flight and finally took advantage of it a few days ago. I have only found the time today to post pictures since I just got back from Toronto, where I visited the Canadian Warplane Heritage (in Mt. Hope) and the Canadian Air and Space Museum (In Downsview). I will post pictures of those two visits in the WIX hangar when I find the time.

Anyways... My flight with Bill in his Swift was wonderful. He has owned it for a very long time and it has been maintained in terrific condition. It's got a 145hp Lycoming (I think that's what he said) which was just overhauled and ran beautifully. The paint job is actually several decades old, but since it's always been hangared it still looks amazing. Bill was also a member of the local formation flying team known as the "Swift Birds." They would perform at practically all the local airshows with their 4 or 5 plane group with matching paint jobs and smoke systems.

We took off out of Langley Airport only to be presented with very low visibility due to the smoke from all of our local forest fires. There were no clouds, only haze and smoke. From Langley we proceeded to the Fraser River where we came across a couple airplanes parked on a sandbar in the middle of the river. They had set up camp and were clearly asking for a low-and-over from us. So, we notified Chilliwack Traffic of our intent to "inspect the landing area" and did so with a nice pull up and peel to the left. From there we carried on up to Harrison Lake for a look around. Conditions were nice and smooth considering seeing as we took off at 7:30pm when most of the heat of the day had dissipated, but it was still quite warm. Our OAT was indicating 23 C, and when we tried putting on the cabin air, it only made it hotter in the airplane. It wasn't too hot, but just a little toasty.

So on our way back from Harrison Lake Bill took the controls again and showed me how easily and willingly the little Swift could do barrel rolls. I hadn't been upside down in quite a while and it was great! We then carried on to beat up Pitt Meadows Airport, then back to Langley for a low pass and landing. In the end it was a great day and a great flight. Thank you Bill!





Peace,

David M

Nice airplane and A nice airplane-knew a guy in my EAA chapter in N.O. about 150 years ago who grafted the engine/prop form a DECATHALON onto his SWIFT, four seat inverted flight anyone?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Wow, that sounds like a spectacular airplane! I figure that would be more than enough power...

-David M

A four seat Swift? Where can i buy one?

There was a Swift at our airport several years ago that was converted into a single seat, but a four seater? Must have some really small friends!

Two adults (he and his frau) and the two very small kids in the back, sort of Austin Healey style. The kids are now adults (I guess)and I have no idea where he or the SWIFT are 125 years and 43 moves later-

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Last I heard, Bill Sheppard & his Swift weren't too far from you.
He was W. Coast based with Delta and had been living in W. WA for years, but I can't remember exactly where now.
A search of the FAA Reg. data base should give you an answer.
It still looks pretty much the same (new paint/different colors) and he maintains it in pristine condition.
It WAS a skookum airplane back then (rated as the THE Best Swift in the world by the Swift Owners Assoc.) and I did some aerobatics in it with him too.
Niiiiiccce airplane.

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Avoid that sinking feeling -- Check the hull plugs on your pre-flight.

Counting the stacks on this side makes it a 145 Continental (a factory set up and six cylinders, where as the Lycomings in this horsepower range have only four). A nice clean looking ship, and they do fly very nicely don't they. I always have fun when I get to ferry one for a customer.

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Fly low. Fly slow, Fly safe.

Continental C-145 and O-300s on Swifts are not factory original. Original Globe GC-1A Swifts were built with Continental C-85s. They were soon superceded by the GC-1B with C-125 engines. All Temco built Swifts had the C-125 only. C-145/O-300 engines are added to lots of Swifts over the years under an STC, including mine. Most the 85hp -1As were converted to -1Bs over the years too.

Over the years, there have been a number of different engine STCs and/or field approvals for Swifts. Continental IO-360 (210hp) is a very popular conversion. Lycoming O-360 series of both 200 and 180hp are pretty common also. I've seen a few Lycoming O-320 series conversions too. Franklin engines of 220 and 250 have also seen several conversions too.

I like my O-300 engined Swift, but would like a CS prop. Unfortunately, that isn't an option with an O-300 (well, there were some experimental O-300Es......). The Swift Association is working with MT propellor to develop an electric controlable pitch prop for the Swift. Not a constant speed, but certainly better than a fixed pitch prop.

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Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S

Yep, great little airplane...



Brian
N46GS
http://www.fllightof2photography.com

Brian,

I'm betting your Swift no longer has an O-300...

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Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S

Hi Jim,

It's a very versatile airframe... I wanted to be able to cruise it at higher altitudes, without all the complexity and weight of turbocharging. I installed the Lycon builit Lycoming IO-360 (parallel valve) in 1994. It is still climbing at FL 180, although pretty sluggish above 14000. I usually cruise at 17000, and true at 145kt. I can get 5:30 endurance with a solid 30-40 minute reserve there. I doubt the Globe engineers had any clue this woud be possible.

In the above photo my friend and IA, David Sos, flew it for the photos. We climbed above a layer at 14000 over the Sierras, during the approach of a cold front to get the background. Very cold up there, but worth the effort.

Thanks,

Brian

Brian,

I have an O-300 in mine. Really just used as a local fun machine along with my Cub.

Here's mine when I first flew it in 1987 when it belonged to a friend....who let me fly it about 100 hours back then, but wouldn't sell it to me.


Here is what it looks like now. I bought it in Dec 2007 from the guy my friend later sold it to.



and here is a link to my never updated website about my aviation activities.

http://home.comcast.net/~jimrice85/planepage.htm

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Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S

Great pictures! Brian, that yellow machine of yours sure looks nice!

Since I can tell you guys are familiar with the Swift, I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the trim levers in them. Bill's Swift that I flew in that started this whole thread had what I would consider a very difficult to use trim handle located between the two seats, on the ceiling, and back a fair distance. Flying from the right seat I found it very uncomfortable to use.

I presume that on Super Swifts, and WWIIABN your machine too, that the trim handle was relocated.

How easy is it change the arrangement of the trim, and have either of you flown Swifts with the original trim set up?

Peace,

David M

Jim,

The polished Swiift is always the nicest looking in my estimation... but what a job, both getting it there and keeping it that way. Its really a beauty.

David,

Careful now... you'll get the bug for this airplane and never be the same. The original trim control is overhead, and behind, which, as you have found less than optimal. Many have been relocated. When the sliding canopy is installed, it has to be relocated, and is replaced with a gearmotor behind the bulkhead (curved shelf). This is how mine is. It is not exactly optimal either, but it is workable. I have heard of at least one with a normal wheel installed between the seats.

You will find that no two Swifts are the same, as there are lots of approved mods that you can apply. If you visit:

http://www.saginawwings.com/

You can learn about what others have done and what is possible. Lots of other good inforamtion in there.



Brian
http://www.flightof2photography.com