MONTY THE ANSWER
MAN ARCHIVE...
Trailering a Swift
OK GANG, WRITE
THESE NUMBERS DOWN AND KEEP THEM HANDY... (010400)
From: "Thomas N. Veres" <airbum@hotmail.com>
Subject: Dimensions of Swift Landing gear.
Hi, My Name is Thom Veres and I am a new member of the Swift Club on Yahoo.Com
. I was told that I could E-Mail You and possibly get the information
that I need so that I can transport a Swift by trailer so I can get the
Darn Thing Home. What I need is the dimensions of the main gear inside
Right to inside Left and the C/L measurement main wheel to main wheel.
The dimensions of C/L of the main axles to the C/L of the tail wheel axle.
Also the Length of the plane with the Horizontal and Vertical Feathers
Removed to the Front of the Propeller Hub. And Last of All the diminution
of the aircraft width from the ends of the wing attach point to wing attach
point. If you can please help me find this information it would be very
helpful for preparation for my 700 mile trek to get her home this coming
weekend. I will be more than grateful for your help. THANK YOU MUCH, Thom
Veres
(Following reply from guest
"Answer Man" Don Bartholomew <spectro@nanosecond.com>
Hi Tom,
Here are the dimensions you requested. Main gear inside Right to inside
Left 105.5" The C/L measurement main wheel to main wheel. 117" The dimensions
of C/L of the main axles to the C/L of the tail wheel axle. 160" Also
the Length of the plane with the Horizontal and Vertical Feathers Removed
to the Front of the Propeller Hub. 221" And Last of All the diminution
of the aircraft width from the ends of the wing attach point to wing attach
point. 127" For transporting a Swift, I: Remove the outer wing panels,
and put a piece of angle iron on the center section wing attach points
on one side to use as a foot. Bolt a 3' piece of angle to the wing attach
point on the other side to attach tie straps to. Turn the plane knife
edge on the trailer. Put a tail stand under the aft fuselage. Tie everything
down. I do it this was so I don't have to deal with oversize permits
and restrictions and I feel it is more stable than carrying it on a 45
degree angle. There are a couple of pictures of my setup on Denis' GTS
Homepage. Good Luck, Don
SWIFTS ON TRAILERS...
(040200)
Snap Lemon, Athens, TN, is doing a lot of work lately picking up Swifts
for Swiftworks. His current rig of choice involves a 2001 Dodge Pick-Up
with a 24 valve, turbo charged, 359 cu.in. inline 6 cylinder Cummings
diesel. The trailer is a custom built 20 footer built by Snap. According
to Snap the rig, with a Swift on board the trailer, pulls with no effort
at all "at any speed" while maintaining 19 mpg. Said Snap...
"A Swift can be EASILY loaded
by ONE person with this trailer. And for some reason being 10.3" wide
is NOT bothered by any Highway Patrolman. Have even had them ask me about
the plane in truck stops and gas stations in six states. They have followed
me, passed me, and waved to me. But never stooped me. Flat hauling (as
opposed to canted) is the best and safest way to haul a Swift, and it
is the only way you can haul one with the engine on"
To see the photo of Snaps
current set-up with Globe Swift s/n 4 on board, go to the GTS Homepage
and the section "The Swift In Words & Pictures". Click on "Swift Photo
Essays" where you will then find the "Swifts On Trailers" photo essay.
"Swifts On Trailers"
HERE'S A VOTE FOR TRAILERING
SWIFTS SIDEWAYS...(040300)
From: "Dick Marlow" <dick@themarlows.com>
Subject: RE: April #2 GTS Internet Update
Hi Dennis, I do not think the following "SWIFTS ON TRAILERS" article is
correct. I was able to easily load my Swift sideways on my trailer and
had no problem moving it 400 miles behind a Ford F150 and was road legal
all the way. I also had to climb from sea level to 5200' through the mountains.
My only speed restriction was the posted speed limits and the hills I
had to climb. I personally think this is absolutely the best way to move
a Swift. It is easy to load, requires very little special equipment, is
safe and most of all absolutely "LEGAL". Of course I did not get MPH as
I was driving a California gasoline powered truck. -- Dick Marlow
HAVE PICKUP... WILL TOW...
(080200)
From: P51pilot44@cs.com
Subject: Transporting Swifts
My Grandfather and I planning to transports his Swift soon and need some
help. We want to move it about 3 miles from the airport to his garage.
He's got the wings off, and were planning to put the engine on before
we move the Swift for better access and maintenance. I would like to know
the best and safest way to transport it with the engine on it. He doesn't
have a trailer to put it on, so were thinking of towing it behind us on
the main gear the the tailwheel propped up on the tailgate at 4:00 in
the morning. Were wondering, though, if we are going to have enough clearance
for the Vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Thanks a lot, Austin Smith
Austin,
For a short trip like that I have put the tailwheel up on a pickup truck
tailgate and transported a Swift on it's own wheels. Use caution when
turning to avoid hitting the stabilizer on the sides of the pickup. Also
the stabilizer is about 10' wide, so be careful. I live about 1 1/2 mi
from the Lake Elmo airport and have brought a lot of Swifts home to work
on them. Be sure the brakes are not dragging. I once pulled one 20 some
miles on its own wheels and removed the brake disks first. -- Jim
TRAILERING A SWIFT...(JAN 04)
From: Tim Mitchell <Flynhitim@aol.com>
Subject: Swift's on trailers
What I'd like to know if how they got those Swift, loaded on the gear
like that, I need to go pick up the Swift I just purchased in Calf. and
get it loaded like that for the trip home to AZ, A friend of mine said
I should retract the gear and haul it on its belly on top of two mattresses?
Any thought or ideas? Tim
Tim
I've done it all ways. When the gear was torn off, I put them on their
belly on a mattress or old car tires. When I trailered them flat I usually
left the gear down and off to the side of the trailer and did the same
thing. As I got older, I got more afraid of getting a ticket for an over
width load, so I either tipped the Swift up at an angle or removed the
centersection. Removing the centersection is a LOT of work. To get the
Swift up at an angle, I have used a hoist, an auto tow truck, and just
plain manpower. (with the engine and wings removed a Swift is not so awful
heavy) Study the photos in "Swifts on Trailers". -- Jim
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