Zion IL.
USA
Carl Swanson built the Flyabout A-12 in 1935.
Zion IL.
USA
Carl Swanson built the Flyabout A-12 in 1935.
In 1931 William G Swan built a rocket-powered glider used in the first rocket-powered, manned flight in the US, first flying on 4 June 1931. A second flight followed the next day. Swan also carried some mail, so it would also qualify as the first rocket-propelled air mail.
The craft was a single-place open-cockpit, high wing monoplane.
William G Swan
Atlantic City NJ.
USA
Built a rocket-powered aircraft in 1931.

Circa 1924 a single-place 180hp Hisso powered acer, named Miss Wichita, was built.
Each one of the first batch of New Swallows built by Stearman in late 1923 was different since there were no plans until Stearman put things on paper. At first they used Laird’s lofting method of laying out everything on the floor full-size, then modified and altered at will.
The Racer is a clipped-wing version, with plain ailerons (elephant-ears came later) and vertical cabanes. Engines were whatever was on hand and this appears to be the big Hisso.
It could be the very one used by Walt Beech to win the Efficiency Race.

The 1924 New Swallow was designed by Lloyd and Waverly Stearman and Walter Beech as the first production of the new company, and differed from the Laird-Swallow in cowled motor, split axle, and single-bay wings. Price varies from $3,500 and $2,750 in 1925, and $2,485 in 1926. About 50 were built, production ending in 1926.
Engine: 90hp Curtiss OX-5
Wingspan: 32’8″
Length: 23’10”
Useful load: 753 lb
Max speed: 100 mph
Cruise: 85 mph
Stall: 40 mph
Range: 450 mi
Seats: 3

Designed by Waverly Stearman, the 1927 OX-5 Swallow was the first Swallow built under ATC (ATC 21). About 250 were built featuring USA-27 airfoil and cabane N-struts.


The 1926 Super Swallow, designed by Charles Laird and Waverly Stearman, was a redesigned New Swallow with steel-tube fuselage, N-struts, straight axle, and one-piece top wing.
About 50 were built.
Engine: 90hp Curtiss OX-5 or OXX-6
Wingspan: 30’0″
Length: 23’0″
Max speed: 102 mph
Cruise: 88 mph
Stall: 50 mph
Seats: 3

Six Swallow Mailplane were built in 1926 for Varney Air Lines. Single-place, they were powered by a 160hp Curtiss C-6 Conqueror engine. Featuring one-piece wings and inverted-V cabane struts, they were repowered with 225hp Wright J-4b engines.

The Swallow Aircraft J5 Swallow, or Whirlwind Swallow, of 1928 (ATC 51) three-place open biplane was powered by a Wright J-5 engine. Priced at $8,500, optional were metal prop, brakes, larger fuel tank, and custom paint.
ATC 2-186 was for modifications to NC430N.
Engine: 225hp Wright J-5
Wingspan: 32’8″
Length: 23’6″
Useful load: 984 lb
Max speed: 128 mph
Cruise: 109 mph
Stall: 45 mph
Range: 550 mi
Seats: 3
The Swallow Aircraft J4 Swallow appears in magazines as such, it is likely a repowered Super Swallow. A 1926 three-place open biplane, powered by a 200hp Wright J-4 engine.