Swift N78103 First Flight

True to the Swift's independent spirit, N78103 gained her independence from earth on July 4th, Independence Day at 19:15 local time from Gillespie Field, El Cajon, CA. I've decided that she should be called Miss Independence! If anyone has knowledge of any "Independence nose art" examples, please send to me.

At the controls were test pilot Geoff Crawford and co-pilot (and restoration A&P team leader) George Snyder. Initial high speed taxi tests were made to run in the new Clevelands and assess handling, instrumentation, etc. When the cockpit crew were satisfied that all was in order they called for take-off clearance. We had a number of friends there to watch (which was facilitated by the fact that our chairs were also perfectly positioned for the fire works display later that evening launched from the adjacent stock car track!). Geoff gently eased in the throttle, let the tail come up and off they went into the setting sun!

Needless to say, my heart was pounding! They stayed over the airport flying a figure eight pattern and entertaining us with that way cool sound of the Continental six-banger. After some 35 minutes, Geoff decided to come back down as the sun was heading towards the horizon. After a perfect landing, Geoff and George taxied back and returned her to the happiest Swift owner in SoCal! The shot of George on the wing walk and Geoff still in the cockpit illustrates the post flight euphoria. Fellow Swifters Marshall Nash, Paul Ross and spouses made it over to the hangar to see the test flight and we look forward to doing the same when their O-360 takes off from the same runway in the near future.

Since the 4th, we have flown her 3 more times including a flight out to the local practice area where George and I provided a photo opportunity to my son Alex flying in a 172 with his instructor. I have included some pics from the first flight as well as a few of the in-flight shots.

We picked up the Swift in pieces at Rod Blake's home in Kansas City back in October; George started working with us in early February; and flew her only 5 months later! Kudo's to George who worked literally 7 days a week with my son Alex and I chipping in on weekends and lunch hour runs for parts! His attention to details and thorough knowledge of the Swift, its systems and the modernization mods that been developed over the years contributed greatly to both the speed and quality of this restoration. George set up my cockpit for two tall guys (I'm 6'2" and Alex is 6' and growing) adding yet another personalized feature to my Swift.

George has since moved over to Arizona where he is starting his own business restoring Swifts, other aircraft as well as storage of commercial transport aircraft. George's address is 7801 Air Terminal Rd, BDI Airport, Douglas, AZ 85607 Phone: 520-805-1535 Cell: 501-240-3770 and email george_w_snyder@hotmail.com. Thanks again George! He'll be missed at the regular weekend lunches at the airport restaurant!

Geoff starts teaching me the ropes next week when I return from the Farnborough Airshow in London. We still have many more hours of work (polish and paint) but its now a simple routine: polish, fly, polish, polish .....Having a great time in America's Finest City!

Karl

She's Off !
Swift N78103 is airborne on her first post restoration flight.
July 4th, 2002 !

She's Down !
A safe landing during the late evening sunset.
Was everything OK?

You Bet !
A big smile and a thumbs-up from restoration team leader George Snyder.

Happy "Flight Crew"
George and "Chief Test Pilot" Geoff Crawford.

The Swift's Caretakers
George and owner Karl Johanson pose with '103.