Swallow AeroPlane Swallow

Single-seat single-engined high-wing mono-plane with conventional three-axis control. Wing has unswept leading and trailing edges, and constant chord; cruciform tail. Pitch control by elevator on tail; yaw control by fin-mounted rudder; roll control by one-third span ailerons; control inputs through stick for pitch/roll and pedals for yaw. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; wing profile; double surface. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation with additional tailskid; steel-spring suspension on nosewheel and glass-fibre suspension on main wheels. Push-right go-right nosewheel steering connected to yaw control. No brakes. Aluminium-tube framework, with optional pod. Engine mounted at wing height driving pusher propeller.

Chet Fudge, the creator of the Swallow, named it in memory of the 1928 American biplane. Swallow AeroPlane Company (earlier called Aeroplane Marketing), originally sold two ver-sions of this single-seater, the Swallow bi-motor, which is classified as an ultralight in the United States and the Swallow B with single engine, classed as an experimental homebuilt aircraft and which we list separately. The twin-engined ultralight used two single cylinder Yamaha KT100S engines giving 15 hp each and driving through a common reduction drive with separate clutches for single engine operation in case of failure.

The company introduced another ultralight variant, this time with one engine, called the Swallow A. It uses a Rotax 277 engine.

The Yamaha-engined machine was avail-able for $5475 in kit form in 1983. Nosewheel steering, previously optional, has been standardised for the Swallow A and for the first time in the Swallow range a pod is available as an option. Other options include floats and a strobe.

The Swallow B is the same as Swallow A except: No ground steering (optional: push-right go-right nose-wheel steering connected to yaw control). Optional brakes on main wheels. No pod option.

In the US the Swallow B is too heavy to be classified as an ultralight, but it could come into the microlight category in some countries. It is basically the same aircraft as the original twin-engined Swallow, but with a Cuyuna 430 engine substituted, developing 30 hp.

The engine is shrouded behind a distinctive glass-fibre fairing, which also improves its cooling. According to the prices given at Sun 'n' Fun in Lakeland in March 1983, the Swallow B sold for $5790 including the engine cowling. Options: wheel fairings for the main wheels $115, steerable nosewheel $360, hydraulic brakes $388, float mountings $456.

Swallow A
Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp at 6200 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 34 inch, 1.32 x 0.86 m
Toothed-belt reduction, ratio 2.0/1
Max static thrust 170 lb, 77 kg
Power per unit area 0.20 hp/sq.ft, 2.2 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 3.8 US gal, 3.2 Imp gal, 14.3 litre
Length overall 18.1 ft, 5.51 m
Height overall 8.0ft, 2.44m
Wing span 34.4ft, 10.49m
Constant chord 4.0 ft, 1.22 m
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 138 sq.ft, 12.8 sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 8.6/1
Empty weight 253 lb, 115kg
Load factors +4.0, -3.0 design
Never exceed speed 60 mph, 97 kph
Best glide ratio with power off 8/1

Swallow B
Engine: Cuyuna 430R engine
Max power 30 hp at 5500 rpm
Propeller diameter and pitch 52 x 34 inch, 1.32 x 0.86 m
Toothed-belt reduction
Power per unit area 0.21 hp/sq.ft, 2.3 hp/sq.m
Fuel capacity 3.8 US gal, 3.2 Imp gal, 14.3 litre
Length overall 18.1 ft, 5.51 m
Height overall 8.0ft, 2.44m
Wing span 34.4ft, 10.49m
Constant chord 4.0 ft, 1.22 m
Sweepback 0 deg
Total wing area 138 sq.ft, 12.8 sq.m
Wing aspect ratio 8.6/1
Nosewheel diameter overall 10 inch, 25 cm
Main wheels diameter overall 10 inch, 25 cm
Empty weight 290 lb, 131 kg
Max take-off weight 585 lb, 265 kg
Payload 295 lb, 134 kg
Max wing loading 4.23 lb/sq.ft, 20.7kg/sq.m
Max power loading 19.5 lb/hp, 8.8kg/hp
Max level speed 70 mph, 113 kph
Max cruising speed 60 mph, 97kph
Stalling speed 28mph, 45kph
Max climb rate at sea level 780 ft/min, 4.0 m/s
Min sink rate 550ft/min at 45mph, 2.8m/s at 72 kph
Take-off distance 75 ft, 23 m
Landing distance 125 ft, 38 m
Range at average cruising speed 137 mile, 220km