Swift S-1
General information
Type	Aerobatic glider
Manufacturer	Swift Ltd.
Designer	Edward Marganski and Jerzy Cisowski
Primary users	Jerzy Makula see European and World Glider Aerobatic Championships for further users
Number built	30 (+ proof of concept glider)
History
Manufactured	1991–1997
First flight	6 August 1991 (proof of concept glider: 11 January 1991)
Developed from	SZD-21 Kobuz

The Swift S-1 is a single seat aerobatic glider manufactured by Polish company Swift Ltd.

Design and development

Edward Margański, Jerzy Cisowski and Jerzy Makula developed the Swift at Bielsko-Biała from the SZD-21-2b Kobuz 3.^[1][2] The prototype first flew in 1991.

The glider is made of glass-fibre epoxy composite. It is very strong (stressed for plus and minus 10g) and manoeuvrable (a roll takes less than 4 seconds). Larger tips to increase the span to 15m were designed but not made. It has a retractable undercarriage.

Specifications

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 6.91 m (22 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 12.7 m (41 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 11.8 m² (127 sq ft)
  
• Tailplane area: 1.65 m² (17.8 sq ft)
• Fin area: 0.9 m² (9.7 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 14.3
• Airfoil: NACA 64₁412
  
• Tailplane airfoil: NACA 63₁012-63006
• Fin airfoil: NACA 63₂015-63012
• Empty weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
• Gross weight: 390 kg (860 lb)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 320 km/h (200 mph, 170 kn) diving
  
• Maximum manoeuvring speed: 228 km/h (142 mph; 123 kn)
• g limits: +10 g / - 7.5 g
• Maximum glide ratio: 30:1 at 107 km/h (66 mph; 58 kn)
• Rate of sink: 0.9 m/s (180 ft/min)

Gallery

Comparable aircraft

• Celair GA-1 Celstar
• MDM-1 Fox
• PZL Bielsko SZD-59

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Swift S-1.

External links

• GoPro Hero 2 Swift S-1 2012 by Luca Bertossio in 3D