Supermarine Swift Photo's Needed
Vague recollection Dizzy Addicot proposed using a Swift with it wings removed for a Land Speed Record attempt in the early/mid 60s but Craig Breedlove appears to have beaten him to it.
I was gliding at Cranfield in 1965-6 and the Swift was still used occasionally with the undercarriage locked down. There were shallow rubber tanks on the runway which were filled with water for the trials. In 1966 it was replaced by a Hunter and we were told that the Swift was going to be converted into a vehicle for an attempt on the world land speed record. That obviously never happened.
According to the Ken Ellis book I looked at this morning Dizzy had another Swift in mind for the Land Speed Record, but I have not memorised the serial number for that one. I will look it up later today.
They were known as 'slush pits' and were used for tests following the Munich Air Disaster, we were told when I was doing my PPL at Rogers Aviation in 1968.
We were also told that no harm would come of any encounter between our little C150s and the pits, but that we should aim to land beyond them on that RW.
On my first solo, I got too low and slow on my first approach, landed just before the slush pits, bounced and went around for a second attempt - which went fine.
Unfortunately everyone thought it was deliberate - the spray of water was quite impressive, I gather! But it wasn't, it was my error!
Of course if I'd been taught using the 'point and power', I'd probably have landed at the correct spot.
A late family friend flew the Swift F7 with 1 GWDS at RAF Valley in 1957 - he was less than complimentary about it, but enjoyed the flying.
We were also told that no harm would come of any encounter between our little C150s and the pits, but that we should aim to land beyond them on that RW.
On my first solo, I got too low and slow on my first approach, landed just before the slush pits, bounced and went around for a second attempt - which went fine.
Unfortunately everyone thought it was deliberate - the spray of water was quite impressive, I gather! But it wasn't, it was my error!
Of course if I'd been taught using the 'point and power', I'd probably have landed at the correct spot.
A late family friend flew the Swift F7 with 1 GWDS at RAF Valley in 1957 - he was less than complimentary about it, but enjoyed the flying.
Getting back to 'Dizzy' Addicott, according to 'Testing to the Limits' he purchased FR.5 WK277 (not XF114) as surplus from 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford for GBP225 to use in the Land Speed Record attempt. This is the airframe that is now at Newark.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Horsham, England, UK. ---o--O--o---
Posts: 1,185
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
The Tangmere Swift
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Spain
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Briefly, being on 79 (FR) Squadron 1954/57), I have some snaps that could be useful ? Can I email them to you sometime ?
What fascinates me is the years between your first request & this sudden resurgence of activity. ???
What fascinates me is the years between your first request & this sudden resurgence of activity. ???
If so, the Balliol (WN516) is now in storage at Baxterley with the Staffordshire Aircraft Restoration Team and the Fireflies (two aircraft, VT409 and WD889) are with a new owner in Newton Abbott, Devon.
WN516:
VT409:
WD889:
I was given a model Swift for Christmas - must have been about 1958. It was mounted on a 12 inch length of flexible wire, encased in white plastic, that extended from the jet pipe to a rubber sucker. This was a representation of a contrail. Mine was mounted on a mirror in my room, and the wire adjusted to give the impression of two aircraft performing a manoeuvre in formation.
Funny that I can recall such detail over 50 years later ... or maybe sad!
Funny that I can recall such detail over 50 years later ... or maybe sad!
I was given a model Swift for Christmas - must have been about 1958. It was mounted on a 12 inch length of flexible wire, encased in white plastic, that extended from the jet pipe to a rubber sucker. This was a representation of a contrail. Mine was mounted on a mirror in my room, and the wire adjusted to give the impression of two aircraft performing a manoeuvre in formation.
Funny that I can recall such detail over 50 years later ... or maybe sad!
Funny that I can recall such detail over 50 years later ... or maybe sad!
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Tattershall
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2010
Location: southend on sea
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I may have been mistaken, but I seem to remember a swift being in the corner of one of the hangars at Raf Swinderby, during my basic square bashing in 1978. As well as a Mossie.?
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Isle of Man
Age: 73
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Skyfame Swift
I don't recall a Swift at Skyfame either. So .... I've checked in Ken Ellis superb book 'Lost Aviation Collections of Britain'. Chapter 4 is devoted to The Short Sunderland Trust and Skyfame and includes a narrative of aircraft movements plus a comprehensive list (pages 52 and 53). Sadly, no Swift.
Thread drift - Skyfame is entirely responsible for my love affair with the DeHavilland Mosquito ...!
Thread drift - Skyfame is entirely responsible for my love affair with the DeHavilland Mosquito ...!
