564:
28:
518:
540:
380:
502:
316:. This structure was relatively strong for its low weight and did not require any realignment even with prolonged use. The fuselage was constructed out of three separate units, the front section carried the engine mounting, the middle portion contained the cockpit, while the rear section carried the tail unit.
281:
aircraft with a high-mounted wing. It was designed as an affordable and low-powered aircraft, albeit one that could deliver performance equal to that of contemporary twin-seat light aircraft. The Swift had a relatively slim appearance with various clean and aesthetically pleasing lines, the fuselage
366:
were bent while rearward-sloping radius rods were used to orientate the wheels. A deck fairing aft of the engine accommodated the aircraft's fuel tank; fuel was supplied via gravity to the engine. This tank, which had a total capacity of nine gallons, had a partition that separated one gallon from
286:, except for the cockpit and a fairly restrictive width adhered to. Despite this, a relatively comfortable cockpit was provisioned along with clear and well-positioned instrumentation, much of it being installed on a dedicated dash. Of particular note was the engine mounting, which incorporated a
211:, a factor that had undermined the prospects of countless aircraft that were otherwise ideal. This principal of prioritising optimal external visibility for the pilot dictated many attributes and characteristics of the aircraft, such as the placement of the
215:
aft of the high-mounted wing. This in turn necessitated the use of a relatively lightweight engine in order to maintain appropriate weight distribution across the aircraft as there was a considerable amount of vertical surface area placed forward of the
122:
to focus on the project. It was designed to be an affordable and compact aircraft that was capable of equivalent performance to that of typical twin-seat light aircraft of the era. The prototype aircraft performed its
472:
LV-FBA Stored, in
Argentina. Also, a second Comper Swift flew in Argentina. Parts saved and stored in Buenos Aires after accident in San Justo 1950– Owner Vicente Bonvisutto (Reg.G-AAZE R-232 LV-YEA LV-FCE)
319:
The aircraft had a monoplane wing that rested on a relatively narrow portion of fuselage while the inefficient portion of wing area within the center was kept proportionally small. An almost pure
204:. The Swift would most closely resemble the C.L.A.3, but represented a considerable advance on this aircraft in terms of its performance, controllability, comfort, and appearance.
410:
During 1931, Arthur Butler flew G-ABRE to
Australia in nine days. After touring the Eastern States, the Swift had covered 23,000 miles. One of the Gipsy Swifts, owned by the then-
702:
490:. - According to Classic Wings Magazine, VH-UVC took to the skies for the first time in 55 years on 20 November 2017 at Omaka Airfield, Blenheim, New Zealand.
1171:
1024:
Follet, Neil (ed.) 2021. Aviation
Heritage Vol52, No.2. The Arrivals - C.A. Butler. Journal of Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc. ISSN 0815-4392
579:
220:. Consequentially, to draw the aircraft's center of vertical area aft of the center of gravity, a relatively large tail unit, particularly in terms of the
335:. It was built in three sections, the relatively narrow center section of which was built as an integral part of the fuselage and resting on two separate
1228:
422:
while being flown by his personal pilot. Postwar, surviving Swifts continued to compete successfully in
British air racing scene into the mid-1950s.
1343:
1338:
1333:
331:
on each side of the fuselage. It featured relatively straightforward construction, consisting of a pair of spruce spars and light girder
563:
1190:
1185:
1145:
1129:
1037:
127:
during
January 1930; quantity production proceeded shortly thereafter. The majority of aircraft produced were powered by the
304:. It shared considerable structural similarity to Comper's previous aircraft designs; the fuselage comprising a lightweight
1237:
1221:
244:
189:
530:
1348:
343:
so that the aircraft only required a minimal storage footprint. All of the wing's fittings were composed of standard
933:
269:
engines – two with 120 hp (89 kW) Gipsy Major III, and one with a 130 hp (97 kW) Gipsy Major.
1328:
1214:
1241:
456:
181:
108:
53:
27:
48:
164:. It continued to be appear in air races, particularly those held in Britain, through to the mid-1950s.
855:
440:
324:
140:
It proved to be a relatively successful long distance touring aircraft, conducting multi-day flights to
243:
piston engine. After successful tests, seven more aircraft were built in 1930, powered by a 50 hp
1104:
Meaden, Jack; Fillmore, Malcolm (Winter 2004). "The Whole Truth: The Comper
Lightplanes: Part Five".
1087:
Meaden, Jack; Fillmore, Malcolm (Autumn 2004). "The Whole Truth: The Comper
Lightplanes: Part Four".
336:
1066:
Meaden, Jack; Fillmore, Malcolm (Winter 2003). "The Whole Truth: The Comper
Lightplanes: Part One".
148:
amongst other destinations. The Swift gained particular notoriety for its participation in various
494:
A new-build aircraft, registered G-ECTF, and built according to the original plans, powered by a
476:
266:
257:
radial engine for use in air racing resulted in all the subsequent aircraft being powered by the
208:
419:
161:
1141:
1125:
1109:
1092:
1075:
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251:
228:, were present to draw the center of vertical area aft of the aircraft's center of gravity.
128:
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966:
552:
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411:
177:
173:
153:
119:
115:
65:
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1168:"The Comper C(LA)7 "Swift" airplane (English) : a high-wing single-seat monoplane"
1049:
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432:
359:
355:
217:
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197:
193:
887:
379:
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145:
134:
124:
1139:
British Built
Aircraft Vol.5: Northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
948:
1297:
1134:
Riding, Richard T. March 2003. Database: Comper Swift. Aeroplane
Monthly. IPC Media
690:
351:
340:
240:
439:
Formerly G-ABUU, now painted to represent "EC-AAT" "Ciudad de Manila" as flown by
184:
with the purpose of building an aircraft that he had designed, which he named the
1292:
1071:
415:
283:
157:
1206:
239:
at Hooton Park. This initial aircraft was powered by a 40 hp (30 kW)
152:, regularly proving itself to be competitive. One aircraft, owned by the then-
1287:
1167:
642:
seven-cylinder air-cooled geared radial piston engine, 75 hp (56 kW)
460:
320:
207:
A key design goal set by Comper for the Swift was to minimise the presence of
1113:
1096:
1079:
1058:
567:
Comper Swift with Gypsy III engine 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile Salon 1932
290:
278:
141:
639:
309:
258:
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149:
131:
501:
107:
is a British single-seat sporting aircraft designed and produced by the
464:
312:
and diagonal struts which attached to the longerons via three-ply wood
212:
296:
In terms of overall construction, the Swift was primarily composed of
261:. The last three factory-built aircraft (sometimes referred to as the
188:. Prior to this, Comper had designed and flown three aircraft for the
313:
305:
301:
297:
287:
225:
562:
523:
500:
344:
328:
362:. The legs directly connected with various internal members. The
293:-absorbing design that proved to be quite effective in practice.
363:
1210:
1202:
Nick Comper official website - suspended before 3 November 2020
1201:
1161:
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)
374:
332:
221:
483:
fly-in, and will be shipped back to Australia after the show.
475:
VH-ACG (Gipsy engine) Airworthy This aircraft was shipped to
1150:
Swanborough, Gordon. "British Aircraft at War, 1939–1945".
1197:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airventure2009/3758521992/
860:
magazine, 15 June 1972, p. 878. (online archive version)
391:
358:
were entirely housed inside of the fuselage, reducing
231:
During January 1930, the prototype Swift (registered
703:
List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force
1280:
1249:
498:engine, flew for the first time on 2 October 2015.
93:
85:
80:
72:
60:
47:
39:
34:
20:
967:"Aircraft that took part in the Spanish Civil War"
1047:Johnson, Ian D. (July–August 2002). "Round-out".
347:plate while the covering was composed of fabric.
874:
872:
870:
868:
796:
794:
792:
367:the rest and could function as a reserve tank.
1222:
8:
1172:National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
1156:, August 1994, Vol. 56, no. 8. pp. 369–371.
580:National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
354:arrangement was used; elements such as the
277:The Comper Swift was a compact single-seat
1229:
1215:
1207:
1030:British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2
888:The Shuttleworth Collection – Comper Swift
575:British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2
17:
1186:Australian civil aircraft register search
1175:, 1 February 1930. NACA-AC-108, 93R19677.
824:
822:
663:140 mph (230 km/h, 120 kn)
1019:The Story of The British Light Aeroplane
812:
810:
808:
806:
773:
771:
769:
741:
739:
737:
727:
725:
723:
443:for his March 1933 flight Madrid-Manila.
1122:Ultralights: The Early British Classics
719:
669:380 mi (610 km, 330 nmi)
452:G-ACGL On display, RAF Museum, Cosford.
111:. It was the company’s first aircraft.
602:17 ft 8.5 in (5.398 m)
114:The Swift was designed shortly after
7:
934:"Comper Swift G-ECTF...almost ready"
614:5 ft 3.5 in (1.613 m)
908:Australian Civil Aircraft Register.
455:G-ACTF Airworthy, displayed at the
608:24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
449:G-ABUS Stored, believed in France.
14:
1108:. Air-Britain. pp. 147–151.
172:In March 1929, Flight Lieutenant
1091:. Air-Britain. pp. 99–106.
538:
516:
378:
26:
1344:Single-engined tractor aircraft
899:Meaden Winter 2004, pp. 148–150
620:90 sq ft (8.4 m)
431:EC-HAM Airworthy, displayed at
418:, won second place in the 1932
160:, won second place in the 1932
648:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
559:Specifications (C.L.A.7 Swift)
339:. The wing was designed to be
1:
1250:Cranwell Light Aeroplane Club
675:22,000 ft (6,700 m)
437:Fundación Infante de Orleans.
327:by a single pair of v-shaped
323:stabiliser was used that was
190:Cranwell Light Aeroplane Club
43:Single-seat sporting aircraft
1339:Aircraft first flown in 1930
1334:1930s British sport aircraft
1193:– British Aircraft Directory
1053:. No. 100. p. 75.
947:Hopkins, Huw (10 May 2017).
531:Spanish Republican Air Force
890:Retrieved: 28 February 2017
446:G-ABTC Stored, in Cornwall.
1365:
469:G-LCGL Airworthy (replica)
435:, Madrid, Spain. Owned by
1120:Riding, Richard T. 1987.
1017:Boughton, Terence. 1963.
986:Swanborough 1994, p. 369.
862:retrieved 10 August 2012.
632:985 lb (447 kg)
626:540 lb (245 kg)
25:
1281:Comper Aircraft Company
953:vintageaviationecho.com
587:General characteristics
457:Shuttleworth Collection
182:Comper Aircraft Company
109:Comper Aircraft Company
54:Comper Aircraft Company
1032:. London, UK: Putnam.
1028:Jackson, A.J. (1974).
949:"The Rise of the Rare"
568:
506:
350:A somewhat unorthodox
118:’s departure from the
878:Meaden Autumn 2004, .
566:
505:Comper Swift, G-ACTF.
504:
1074:. pp. 147–152.
858:Flight International
105:Comper C.L.A.7 Swift
1163:. Orbis Publishing.
1124:. Patrick Stephens
1106:Air-Britain Archive
1089:Air-Britain Archive
1068:Air-Britain Archive
1004:NACA 1930, pp. 4-6.
922:: 46. January 2012.
856:"A Royal aviator",
837:NACA 1930, pp. 4-5.
828:NACA 1930, pp. 3-4.
763:NACA 1930, pp. 1-3.
754:Meaden 2003, p. 151
685:Related development
371:Operational history
265:) were fitted with
35:General information
1349:High-wing aircraft
1137:Smith, Ron. 2005.
569:
507:
486:VH-UVC Stored, in
441:Fernando R. Loring
390:. You can help by
267:de Havilland Gipsy
192:, these being the
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488:Sydney, Australia
408:
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218:center of gravity
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816:NACA 1930, p. 3.
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786:NACA 1930, p. 5.
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777:NACA 1930, p. 4.
775:
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745:NACA 1930, p. 2.
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428:
420:King's Cup Race
412:Prince of Wales
404:
398:
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388:needs expansion
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356:shock absorbers
300:and covered by
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180:and formed the
178:Royal Air Force
174:Nicholas Comper
170:
162:King's Cup Race
154:Prince of Wales
144:and across the
120:Royal Air Force
116:Nicholas Comper
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66:Nicholas Comper
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248:radial engine
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237:maiden flight
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970:. Retrieved
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691:Comper Mouse
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241:ABC Scorpion
232:
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186:Comper Swift
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97:January 1930
94:First flight
86:Manufactured
73:Number built
49:Manufacturer
15:
1072:Air-Britain
654:Performance
646:Propellers:
636:Powerplant:
414:and future
284:streamlined
263:Gipsy Swift
209:blind spots
168:Development
156:and future
1323:Categories
709:References
618:Wing area:
461:Old Warden
321:cantilever
1114:0262-4923
1097:0262-4923
1080:0262-4923
1059:0143-5450
714:Citations
606:Wingspan:
572:Data from
510:Operators
426:Survivors
337:bulkheads
310:longerons
291:vibration
279:monoplane
176:left the
150:air races
142:Australia
89:1930–1933
1244:aircraft
1238:Cranwell
972:14 April
680:See also
640:Pobjoy R
399:May 2024
288:patented
259:Pobjoy R
61:Designer
612:Height:
600:Length:
477:Oshkosh
465:England
314:gussets
213:cockpit
202:C.L.A.4
198:C.L.A.3
194:C.L.A.2
81:History
1303:Streak
1242:Comper
1144:
1128:
1112:
1095:
1078:
1057:
1036:
667:Range:
543:
521:
341:folded
329:struts
325:braced
306:girder
302:fabric
298:spruce
273:Design
252:Pobjoy
233:G-AARX
226:rudder
129:Pobjoy
1308:Swift
1298:Mouse
1272:CLA.7
1267:CLA.4
1262:CLA.3
1257:CLA.2
920:Pilot
594:Crew:
524:Spain
364:axles
345:steel
21:Swift
1293:Kite
1240:and
1142:ISBN
1126:ISBN
1110:ISSN
1093:ISSN
1076:ISSN
1055:ISSN
1034:ISBN
974:2012
638:1 ×
360:drag
333:ribs
224:and
200:and
103:The
40:Type
1288:Fly
394:.
222:fin
56:Ltd
1325::
1070:.
951:.
867:^
821:^
805:^
791:^
768:^
736:^
722:^
577:,
463:,
459:,
196:,
137:.
76:45
1230:e
1223:t
1216:v
1116:.
1099:.
1082:.
1061:.
1042:.
976:.
955:.
936:.
596:1
401:)
397:(
255:P
132:P
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