Globe Swift

"Globe/Temco Swift" by D. Miller -- CC BY 2.0

The genesis of the Globe Swift is an odd one. Developed from an existing design, the Culver Cadet, the Swift somehow bore only a passing resemblance to its inspiration. While the Cadet was a decent-looking airplane, the Swift is a true beauty. Introduced in the postwar era, the Swift was, in a few important ways, the embodiment of the most famous fighters of the day in a miniaturized, and to be honest, an underpowered, package. An all-metal taildragger with a sleek low wing, the Swift mimicked the shape and style of planes like the American P-51 Mustang or British Supermarine Spitfire. And the Swift was up for the comparison.

Though it wasn't intended to go fast---the first model had an engine of just 85 hp---the Swift had a lot of style. With spry handling qualities and a big glass canopy (that looked like a sliding canopy even if it wasn't), the Swift is an airplane that makes it easy to check your six, if you're so inclined. In the end, Globe, with the help of fellow manufacturer TEMCO, built more than a thousand of the little two-seaters, though within a few short years it was building far more of them than it could sell. Today, the Swift is a hot used plane for pilots looking for flying fun on the cheap. Many modify it with a true sliding canopy and a more powerful engine while swapping out, in true warbird fashion, the classic yokes for arguably even more classic sticks.

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J BeckettWriter