Swift Aircraft Swift

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.

Swift
Role	Aerobatic two seat light aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Swift Aircraft
First flight	Expected late 2023[1]

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.^[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

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)

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.