Globe GC-1 Swift
The Globe GC-1 Swift is a compact, retractable-gear two-seat sport monoplane designed by R.S. 'Pop' Johnson and certified in 1946, its sleek lines and manual gear making it feel more like a fighter trainer than an ordinary post-war tourer. Globe and its subcontractor TEMCO built roughly 833 Swifts in a matter of months to meet a postwar buying boom that collapsed almost as quickly, bankrupting Globe by mid-1947. TEMCO continued limited production until 1951. Despite that short production run, the Swift developed a devoted enthusiast following, and a dedicated type club still supports the many surviving airframes flying today.
Did you know?
A 1940s sport plane with fighter-like lines and manual retractable gear — the compact, two-seat Swift still draws a devoted club of surviving owners.
Specifications
| Length | 6 m (20 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 8.9 m (29 ft) |
| Height | 1.9 m (6 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1 t |
| Service ceiling | 18,000 ft (5,486 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 360 m (1,181 ft) |
| Landing distance | 260 m (853 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 120 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Globe GC-1 Swift starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Globe, the GC-1 Swift family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
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