Swift Aircraft Swift

Swift

Role  | Aerobatic two seat light aircraft

Type of aircraft

National origin | United Kingdom
Manufacturer  | Swift Aircraft
First flight  | Expected late 2023[1]

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

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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.[2]

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 119–194 kW (160–260 hp), driving a three-bladed propeller.[2]

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,[3][4] and exhibited a static display at AeroExpo UK.[5]

In 2021, the Royal Air Force announced its intention to become carbon neutral, called Project MONET.[6] 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.[7] Swift Technology Group have begun experimenting with hemp and flax fibres in the composite panels,[1] as well as alternate fuels, and even electric propulsion.[7]

## Variants

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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[6]
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)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011/12[2] Performance estimated.

General characteristics

* Capacity: 2
* Length: 6.565 m (21 ft 6 in)
* Wingspan: 8.055 m (26 ft 5 in) including winglets
* Height: 2.015 m (6 ft 7 in)
* Empty weight: 372 kg (820 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 743 kg (1,638 lb)
* Fuel capacity: 187 L (49.4 US gal; 41.1 Imp gal)
* Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming air-cooled flat-six engine, 194 kW (260 hp)
* Propellers: 3-bladed MT-Propeller, constant speed

Performance

* Maximum speed: 340 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
* Cruise speed: 302 km/h (188 mph, 163 kn) at 75% power
* Stall speed: 93 km/h (58 mph, 50 kn) flaps down
* g limits: +6/-4
* Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,110 ft/min) maximum, at sea level

Avionics

* EFIS.
* Bendix/King IFR.

## References

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1. ^ a b Stephen Bridgewater (11 November 2022). "Swift progress". Aero Society.
2. ^ a b c Jackson, Paul (2011). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2011-12. Coulsdon, Surrey: IHS Jane's. p. 596\. ISBN 978-0-7106-2955-5.
3. ^ "Swift Technology Group Secures Private Investment". Swift Technology Group. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2024. Undated press release.
4. ^ "Swift gets fresh investment to develop new aircraft". Pilot Magazine. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
5. ^ "Exhibitor List | AeroExpo UK 2015 | AeroExpo UK 2015". 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
6. ^ a b "Project MONET Announcement". Swift Technology Group. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
7. ^ a b Paul F. Eden (31 July 2023). "UK MoD sees promise in Swift composite aerobatic plane". Runway Girl Network. Retrieved 15 June 2024.

## External links

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* Swift Aircraft