Brainstorming a Swift

[The Rat]

Been reading through a book I picked up a while back, Supermarine Fighter Aircraft by Victor F. Bingham.* Now we all know that the Swift was the next generation's Defiant, a much maligned aircraft which failed in its initial role but excelled in a later one, in this case as the FR.5, a superb low-level fighter recce platform that actually outperformed the RF-86 and RF-101 in many respects.

But what else could it have done? It had much better acceleration and initial climb than the Hunter, and a very robust airframe, so howzabout a navalised version? It could have given the Royal Navy a potent punch half a decade earlier than the Buccaneer, in both attack and reconnaissance roles. Extended nose gear leg with dual wheels, arrestor hook and folding wings (of course!), and a nice blue and white paint job, and I think we have the makings of a nice little project for the Testors one that is buried somewhere in the stash. Any thoughts?

Other ideas would be a two place trainer (the RN one could possibly be a two-holer), or raspberry ripple. Input welcome!


*The Crowood Press, http://www.crowoodpress.co.uk/, ISBN 1 86126 649 9

[jcf]

The first Swift prototype, (VV106 -  essentially a swept-wing Attacker), was the first swept wing aircraft to operate off of an aircraft carrier. So a navalised Swift isn't outside of the realm of consideration. I guess you could team it with the supersonic Scimitar, the Type 576.

Jon

[upnorth]

Hand it off to India for a bit and let HAL tinker with it before you take it back for yourself, seemed to work OK for the Gnat.

Seriously, I think export is the way to look at it. It would probably look pretty slick in Rhodesian markings and certainly there would be use for such an aircraft in that region.

For at home, they might work well as unit and base hacks after more advanced types are taken on strength.

Heck, they might even look great in Red Arrows markings.

Beyond attack, reece and training, I'm not sure what else you might do with it, fairly small aircraft wasn't it?

[The Rat]

... fairly small aircraft wasn't it?

Not much smaller than a Hunter.

[Thorvic]

Supermarine Type 545 

[The Rat]

Supermarine Type 545 

BLECH! Too ugly!

[P1127]

A naval Swift was actually ordered (based on the F3) but later cancelled. There is a small mention of it in Tony Buttler's British Secret Projects Fighters book.

There is also the PR6 (think high altitude). How about a trainer as in the Hunter F6s used by 4FTS?

[B777LR]

Supermarine Type 545 

Isnt that the aircraft they wanted to bellyflop onto carriers and runways?

[P1127]

How is the Magna kit? It's the one Swift kit I haven't got!

[GTX]

For a start, a swift in use by anyone outside of the RAF would be a start.

Regards,

Greg

[The Rat]

...but it simply wasn't a fighter.

Precisely why I was thinking attack or recce.

[Martin H]

At the Milton keyens show I was shown an article about a plan to rip the wings off a swift and use it for a land speed record attempt back in the 1960's and Brian will love this the wheels were spatted in the drawing I saw.

[Brian da Basher]

Did you say spat, Glorious Leader?

I am sooo there!

Brian da Basher

[The Rat]

I am sooooo leaning toward the Naval variant. The thought of adding leading edge slats appeals to me, but thinking of the work that it would entail scares me at the same time. The two fences on each wing are wrong, but could be explained away as necessary on a navy bird, or discarded all together. Wing fold will go between the ailerons and flaps. Refueling probe, hmmm...

[AeroplaneDriver]

Hmmm....USN RF-10A Swift operating from the Oriskany in SEA?