Jump to content

The Supermarine Swift – A Technical Guide


Mike

Recommended Posts

The Supermarine Swift – A Technical Guide
ISBN 978-0-9930908-9-9

Valiant Wings Publishing

boxtop.jpg


The Swift was built by Supermarine after the British Government woke up to the fact that we no longer had a competitive jet fighter that could reach high mach numbers and go up against any potential aggressor on an equal footing. This new book from our friends at Valiant Wings describes the difficult gestation of the Swift that went from a swept-wing Attacker to a very different aircraft that broke several world speed records at the time, and became a bit of a whipping-boy over the years. It was an accomplished low-level performer, but due to the constant changing of the requirements in a fast-moving field of development, it was never able to truly shine at anything else. It did however pave the way with a few key technologies that stood the British aircraft industry in good stead for its last remaining years of existence as a home-grown group of independent entities.

pages1.jpg


The book is perfect bound with a flexible card cover in the house style and the publication details on the slim spine. Inside are 80 pages in high glossy paper with colour throughout where applicable. As is often the case with older aircraft, a great many of the original and contemporary photos are in black and white, but detail in these is excellent.

Written by Richard A Franks (where does he find the time & information?), it is split into an informative introduction to the type that discusses the trials and tribulations of the project from start to finish, with a technical description, painting and markings, then a kit build to finish. The layout is as follows:

Sections

Introduction

Technical Description

Detailed coverage of construction and equipment.

Camouflage & Markings

Colour side profiles, notes and photographs.

Kit Build

A quick look at Airfix's new 1:72 Swift FR Mk.5.

Appendices

i) Supermarine Swift kit, accessory & decal list.

ii) Supermarine Swift Squadrons – a list of all the units that operated the type.

iii) Bibliography.


pages2.jpg


The colour profiles are executed by Richard J Caruana, and the model build was done by the author himself, and both are done to a very high standard, as we have come to expect from Valiant's many books.


Conclusion
Another super title from Valiant that is filled with interesting text, drawings, technical information and a lot of pictures that I haven't seen before. There are also a number of pictures of preserved and not-so preserved examples of this turned-up nosed fighter, and the book should appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in the type.

Highly recommended.

bin.jpg


Review sample courtesy of
VWPLogo.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know the disassembled airframe featured in the second set of photos very well, it's the F.4 that sat as a "gate guard" at Sheppards Surplus in Upper Hill, Herefordshire for many years.

As a kid my friends and I would often cycle out there. It's bittersweet knowing she's no longer there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know the disassembled airframe featured in the second set of photos very well, it's the F.4 that sat as a "gate guard" at Sheppards Surplus in Upper Hill, Herefordshire for many years.

As a kid my friends and I would often cycle out there. It's bittersweet knowing she's no longer there.

Much better she is being well looked after now

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not within reach of the book at the moment, but from memory each variant has its own section, and plenty of photos. The more capable and numerous airframes do get more space as you'd expect, but not massively so, and not to the detriment of the other less successful marks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have just taken delivery of this book and I can't rate it highly enough.its an excellent reference book for the swift,and I would go as far as to say my favourite book to date.Am going to spend many hours poring over it.Now can we please have one on the javelin to the same standard. ☺

Edited by fatalbert
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...