SWIFT Prototype #2

In June 1990 the second prototype of the SWIFT hang glider was flown for the first time. These segments show the very first foot launch and ridge soaring flights of what would become the nominal SWIFT design. This prototype was constructed in 6 weeks from aluminum, mylar, and foam. It was flown a few weeks later 160 miles in the Owens Valley by Eric Beckman and used a simple Mylar fairing around the pilot. The flights shown here were flown open cockpit.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SWIFT
• hang
• glider
• foot
• launch
• sailplane
• soaring
• ultralight

[smorrismlbco]

About 100 lbs.

[tomterahedrob]

is the D-tube all aluminum and foam?No carbon fiber in this one?

[smorrismlbco]

No carbon fiber on this one, it was a prototype for testing only.

[IANRPARKER]

Did you imagine how it would develop? Fantastic. I hope you all made a load of money and spend your life flying. Then I hope I can fly like that soon.

[lancairflyer]

HA... Going 45 and still above Tom Low! Imagine!

Those were the days!

Tom Low

[soliv27]

abruti

[InovaArchangelDX3]

true

[silverpizza100]

You need to put a Mexican in that thing and fly him back to mexico!!

[tomterahedrob]

Thanks.Any info on this models G-loading,glide ratio,min sink?Im amazed at how advanced just aluminum,foam and mylar could be by such great design.Way beyond the Horten brothers!

[peckerwood57]

Sweet landing. I saw that picnic table closing fast.