George McClellan's Swift N655S

Globe Swift serial number 374 was manufactured in August of 1946 as a GC-1A and, as with all GC-1As was, powered by an 85hp Continental C85. The original "N" number of this Swift was N90360.  Current caretaker and proud owner, Virginian George McClellan, apparently doesn't have the early logbooks so the first of what he told us about this Swift was that in 1958 it was owned by Gordon E. Ries of Punta Gorda Florida. At the time '360 had accumulated almost 1000 hrs and Ries replaced the 85 Cont. with a 135 hp Lycoming 0290-02. Ries then went "big time" in 1960 when he had a 150 hp Lycoming 0-320 installed for "research and development" and conned the in to changing the Swift to the experimental category.

In May 1966 the swift, with a 1450 hr total time, '360 was sold to Robert J. Shipley of Ft Lauderdale Florida. He surely drew the future ire of  our beloved Jim Montague when he changed the registration to N655S. Other changes made by Shipley were a one-piece windshield and had a squared-off rudder cap which results in an appearance similar to the Temco Buckaroo.  You'll notice in the photo that the squared-off theme was carried over to the wing tips also with the addition of what most Swifters refer to as "Buckaroo Tips".  Another thing that would be apparent to those more deeply involved in Swift trivia is the rather obvious change from the large curving Globe rear window to the "New Look" D-window of the Swifts built by Temco after they gain the sole rights to producing the Swift. Lastly, it appears that the nose bowl and "chin" of the cowl was changed allowing a downdraft rather than an updraft cooling air flow.  In this kind of arrangement the original top cowl and sides of the cowl are retained but they may very well be from a GC-1B cowl rather than a -1A cowl.  Ahhhh, the variety...

In March of 1977 the Swift formerly known as 90360, with 1889 total hours, was sold to George W. Stratner of Virginia Beach, Va.  He replaced the engine with another Lycoming 0-320 in May of 1977 after an engine failure in flight. (I hate it when that happens...) However, no damage to the Swift was recorded in the logs so apparently Stratner managed to get on the ground with the Swift and himself unscathed. He also striped and polished the Swift in 1980 and then covered it with two coats of clear polyurethane.  This clear coat business sounds like a good idea until the clear coat starts to yellow after a few years and you have to strip all the #@$*!?@# stuff off...  This is apparently something that our current caretaker George will have to deal with.  Today's "offical" opinion among the majority of Swifters familiar with the care and feeding of polished Swifts is that clear coating is NOT a good idea. 

In May of 1988 '55Serria, with 2156 total hours, was sold to Gary B. Backus of Chesapeake Va. and based at Hampton Roads airport (PVG). He installed the Cleveland brakes and according to George Gary is also the photographer that took the air-to-air picture at the top of this page.

George McClellan purchased the Swift, with 2268 hours, in November 1996. The Swift has a semi-original panel with control wheels and a Bendix / King KLX 135 GPS/COM, a G meter, electric fuel pump and remote compass. The old wobble fuel pump is still in place and works as a third option. George told us via email... "I want to either rebuild the engine I have now or upgrade to a Lycoming 200hp with fuel injection and a constant speed prop. I am also working up the nerve to strip and polish. I still fly some air shows for the Confederate Air Force and like to fly with my Swift buddies so time to do the above is limited."

GO WITH THE BIG MOTOR GEORGE !!!

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Many thanks to George McClellan for providing the photos and the information used on this page.

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