SWIFT WING TIPS... (4299)
Subject: Re: Swift tips
From: Ken White <tinman@telis.org>
Hi,
Can you tell me how to find the alloy of the wingtips, so proper welding may be done?  --  Kent White

Kent,
The alloy is 5052 -- Jim

IT ALWAYS GETS INTERESTING WHENEVER MEN DISCUSS SHORT VS LONG... (010400)

From: "Dot & Bill Shepherd" <billdot10ss@prodigy.net>
Subject: more on wingtips
To add more fuel to the fire on Short vs. Stock wingtips, here is some results on my Swift . These tests were done back when I had a 150 Lyc. When I first put the short tips on I found climb rate was down considerably at 85 MPH. So I switched back to the stock tips, then noticed that climb time to cruise altitude was no better than with short tips! I switched back to the short tips and did more thorough climb tests and found that at my normal climb speed the rate of climb was the same. At about 100/105 and above I could not measure any difference in climb rate using a stopwatch and altimeter. Also even more interesting, was no difference in stall speed. Switching to short tips you loose a fair amount of wing area, so what is going on! After pondering this for a while I talked with a friend who was pretty deep into aerodynamics and his explanation was that shorter aspect ratio wings with the same airfoil stall at a higher angle of attack, thus producing more lift per sq. ft. of wing area (and more drag) at that angle of attack. The absolute ceiling will be reduced with the short tips-but only when the climb or cruise airspeed (indicated) drops to 105MPH. Other benefits of short tips are faster roll rate, takes up less hangar space, and one other neat surprise-shorter landing rollout. How can that be! The lower aspect ratio wing hasless ground cushion and the tires don't skip along as much after touchdown and allows you to start braking sooner if needed. I noticed this when switching the tips back and fourth during testing. One last comment, a good set of stock tips is much prettier. -- Bill

(Editor's note: My lovely bride Erin has a nice set of short wingtips on her Swift that she would LOVE to trade straight across for a pair of stock tips. In fact, I've got an extra set of short tips in storage too! Any takers???)

MONTY'S SPOTS A 125HP SWIFT WITH SHORT WINGTIPS... (050100)
From: Monty747@aol.com
Subject: Re: SWIFT W C-125
To: Bill Bruton <Bbrut55@aol.com>
Bill,
I happened to be looking in the "50 Year" Anniversary book and saw the picture of your airplane in there. You have the Bonanza wing tips! A C-125 powered Swift should not have the short tips. Whatever your rate of climb is, it would be about double with the stock tips or Buckaroo wingtips. In other words, if you get 300 fpm, it might be 600 fpm with the stock tips. Or, if you get 150 fpm, it might be 300 fpm with stock tips, etc. -- Jim

FIBERGLASS WINGTIP STC...(110500)
Subj: STC for Fiberglass Tips
From: Bill Bruton <Bbrut55@aol.com>
Monty, I have purchased a set of fiberglass tips for my Swift and need the paper work for them. How and where can I get the paper work for these excellent tips. The AC had the M tips when I bought it but as you suggestd earlier this year with only 125 HP on a good day the climb rate really suffers. Bill Bruton, Tacoma, WA

Bill, Strange you should ask, I just picked up a set of Buckaroo tips for our Swift project. I had the same problem with paperwork. Nowadays, you need the STC to send to your FSDO along with the 337. I got the STC paperwork and if you send me your snailmail address I will send you a copy. -- Jim

"BUCKAROO" WING TIPS... (100401)
Subj: Wing Tips:
From: Bill Doty wdoty@seidata.com
Jim, Will the Buckaroo wing tips fit on N80572 ??? Would they be Aluminum ? The pair I have are to rough to polish !! Thanks , Bill

Bill
The common "Buckaroo" wing tips that are available, like advertised in the GTS newsletter, are fiberglass. The originals were aluminum and if a pair should surface, the price might be several thousand dollars! We are using the fiberglass Buckaroo tips on the project I am working on. For the price, they are close to the originals as far as performance goes and can be readily painted. I would recommend them or maybe a real metal expert can straighten your original tips. Yes, the Buckaroo tips will fit fine on N80572. -- Jim

EARLY MODEL WING TIPS... (AUG O4)
Subj: Wingtips
From: Bud England <dalswift1@sbcglobal.net>
Jim:
I presume that my wingtips on S/N 3713 are original, but I don't know so for sure. They have a welded but unpolished leading edge back to the position lights, then a flange that is riveted together around the trailing edge. Does this sound original? I'd love to weld and polish the edge all the way around, but you know how I am about staying original! Do you have any idea at what s/n Temco started leaving the flange? Also, I've had several discussions about the "piping" around the seat covers. 4-layers down, my originals appear to have white piping--I've long suspected that perhaps they were originally cream colored and have just faded to white. Cream would have matched the interior trim. Mark told me that he thought that the originals had blue piping. He said he had some he''d check, though I haven't heard from him. Again, this is something that may well have changed several times during production. Any thoughts?. Bud

Bud
Those sound original for s/n 3713. I think the flanged tips were made by Univair. I'm not sure of which series, but many had the leading edge weld ground down and polished. The welded and polished trailing edge was a Globe thing.For an original s/n 3713 should have N2413B painted on it!The upholstery changed so many times during production I don't think anyone could call one thing or another incorrect! Incidently I have an old (1953?) sales brochure from Vest Aircraft (Univair) they list: -- "Seats. There were two models of seats manufactured for the Swift. The standard model which were covered with blue and cream leatherette list at $125.00 and are offered for a limited time at $35.00. The deluxe seats are blue cloth whip cord. These are a beautiful seat and list at $175.00 which we offer at $49.50. This includes one back and two bottom sections. Why not dress up your Swift?" -- Jim