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Swift Aircraft

Coordinates: 52°45′27″N 01°21′00″E / 52.75750°N 1.35000°E / 52.75750; 1.35000
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52°45′27″N 01°21′00″E / 52.75750°N 1.35000°E / 52.75750; 1.35000

Swift Aircraft Limited
Company typePrivate limited company[1]
IndustryAerospace
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
HeadquartersScottow Enterprise Park, RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, England
Key people
David Stanbridge (founder and managing director)
ProductsCertified aircraft, kitplanes
ParentSwift Technology Group
WebsiteSwiftAircraft.com

Swift Aircraft Limited is a British aerospace manufacturer that designs the Swift II aerobatic training aircraft.

Swift II

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The Swift II is a side-by-side, two-seat training and aerobatic aircraft, and is currently in the final stages of design. Swift Aircraft plan to market the Swift II for the military and civilian markets when it becomes available. The aircraft will be of all composite construction to save weight and improve performance. The company expected to commence tooling for construction of the Swift II by the end of 2011, and will initially offer the Swift II as a kit, before bringing the design up to certified standard. The Swift range is planned to include:

  • Swift II (certified CS-23)
  • Swift VLA (certified CS-VLA)
  • Swift VLA (kit plane)

Other activities

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In 2008, Swift took over fellow British composite aircraft manufacturer, Europa Aircraft.[2]

The company also sells and leases the Slingsby T67 Firefly, having purchased 22 examples from Babcock Defence Services in June 2011 following their retirement from the British military elementary flying training programme.[3] It is responsible for support and service of the Firefly, although it does not possess the type certificate, as this was revoked by its former holder, Marshall Group.[4]

In June 2019, permission was granted from local councils to reopen the runway at the former RAF Coltishall (where Swift Aircraft are now located), and allow Swift Aircraft to produce 98 aircraft a year as well as allowing eight flights a day from the former airbase.

References

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  1. ^ "Swift Aircraft Limited – Company number 05317138". Government of the United Kingdom. n.d. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Europa Aircraft bought by Swift". Flyer. 18 October 2008.
  3. ^ "Slingsby Firefly T67 – service and support". SwiftAircraft.com. Swift Aircraft. n.d. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. ^ Needham, Martin; Haynes, Thomas (January 2021). "Swift transfer for Firefly support". Air International. Vol. 100, no. 1. p. 22. ISSN 0306-5634.
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