The Swallow New Swallow, also known as the Swallow Commercial Three-SeaterTaylor 1989, p.851 is an American-built general purpose biplane of the mid- to late 1920s. The New Swallow name was to distinguish it from the aircraft from which it was derived, the Laird Swallow.Juptner 1962, p.66The designation OX-5 Swallow is sometimes used interchangeably to refer to OX-5-powered Super Swallow aircraft; sometimes even within the same reference. Similarly, Whirlwind Swallow might refer to a J-4-powered New Swallow or J-5-powered Super Swallow.
Development
The Swallow Airplane Manufacturing Co was formed in 1923 to take over the business of the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. of Wichita, Kansas and set up its factory there. In 1924, the New Swallow three-seat biplane was introduced, which differed from the earlier Laird-Swallow in having a cowled engine, split axle undercarriage and single-bay wings.Aerofiles About 50 examples were produced until the design was enhanced in 1926. The initial price was $3,500 reducing to $2,485 in late 1926.
After 1926, production shifted to the redesigned, steel-framed Super Swallow.Bowers 1980, p.106
Operational history
The three-seat Swallow found ready use in the hands of small commercial firms and with the newly founded regional airlines.
When the Air Mail Act of 1925 came into force, Walter Varney tendered for route CAM 5,Juptner 1962, p.135United Airlines Historical Foundation which connected Pasco, Washington with Elko, Nevada via Boise, Idaho,Bowers 1976, p.91 crossing the Cascade Mountains.The Museum of Flight He won the tender unopposed, and ordered six New Swallows to service the route.Juptner 1962, p.135 These aircraft, sometimes known as the Swallow Mailplane differed from the current production version by being equipped with a 160-hp (119-kW) Curtiss C-6 water-cooled, inline engine. Their wingspan was extended by four feet (1.2 metres) and the passenger cockpit was enclosed to create a hold for mail. The first flight took off from Pasco on April 6, 1926. Pilot Leon Cuddeback transported 9,285 pieces of mail, weighing 207 pounds (93.9 kg), plus bottles of grape juice intended for President Calvin Coolidge. Cuddeback also completed the return trip successfully, but the following week, on the second flight out of Pasco, was forced down in the desert. The Curtiss engines proved unsuitable for the hot-and-high conditions, and Varney ordered replacement air-cooled 208-hp (155-kW) Wright J-4s instead. After 60 days grounded, the re-engined Swallows returned to service.
Three Swallows participated in the 1925 Ford Air Tour, piloted by Earl Roland, John Stauffer, and Jacob Moellendick.Juptner 1962, p.67
Variants Source : Aerofiles New Swallow 90 h.p. Curtiss OX-5, about 50 built 1924-1926 Swallow Mailplane also known as the J4 Swallow; six New Swallows ordered for Varney Air Lines with Curtiss C-6 engines, re-engined with Wright J-4s Super Rhone Swallow name given to aircraft equipped with the Super Rhone radial enginePopular Mechanics 1927, p.117 Specifications (New Swallow)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era (partial listing, only covers most numerous types)
Alexander Eaglerock American Eagle A-101 Brunner-Winkle Bird Buhl-Verville CA-3 Airster Command-Aire 3C3 Parks P-1 Pitcairn Mailwing Spartan C3 Stearman C2 and C3 Travel Air 2000 and 4000 Waco 10
Related lists
List of aircraft List of civil aircraft
Notes
References
Bibliography Aerofiles: Specifications and images of Swallows