The Swift Association and The Swift Museum Foundation, Inc
50 Years of History, Fun, Friends, and Our Magnificent Swifts
Just a few short years ago, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of our beautiful Swifts. There is absolutely no way to cover all that has happened with the Swift since its inception in 1941 in just a few short paragraphs. The story is dynamic, the key people ever changing ….but….the one constant is the Swift. Although they were all built in a short period of time and were essentially the same at the outset…that is no longer true. The Swift is undoubtedly one of the most modified aircraft ever built with changes limited only by the imagination and talent of those who own them. However, a Swift is and will always be….a Swift. Rugged, reliable, feisty, and yes……..beautiful and flies like a dream. If you are interested, I recommend to you at least two books: “The Swift…the First 50 Years” which was compiled and written by our President, Charlie Nelson, and “The Globe/TEMCO Swift Story” by Stanley G. Thomas. Both of these volumes are well researched and feature information from some of the luminaries in Swift history such as: John Kennedy, President of Globe Aircraft; Robert McCullough, President of TEMCO; “Bud” Knox, the driving force behind the all-metal Swift design who pushed to get it certified and produced; Pop Johnson, a self-made aircraft builder who developed the original idea of a low wing monoplane and then sold the idea to Mr. Kennedy; J.E. Dyer, President of Univair, who bought the type certificate, jigs, and parts from TEMCO when they brought Swift production to an end in 1951; and many, many other key individuals who influenced the journey of the Swift along the way.
This year we celebrate yet another milestone in the world of the Swift as the International Swift Association celebrates it’s 50th year. It all began in the early 1960’s when a small group of Swift owners gathered each year at the EAA fly-in in Rockford, Illinois (later to be moved to Wisconsin and become the great Oshkosh AirVenture we know today) to compare and share their experiences with their Swifts. In these discussions, one thought seemed to always surface…“Somebody ought to do something where we can stay in touch and help each other out with these birds.” So, after the Rockford EAA fly-in in 1968, one of them, a guy by the name of Charlie Nelson, decided to do just that. He went home to Tennessee and ran an ad in the October 1968 issue of Trade-a-Plane. The ad was listed under “Swift Miscellaneous” and read as follows:
“SWIFT ASSOC. now being formed. Non-profit for mutual aid to owners and improvement of the Swift. For free information about Newsletter and possible annual get-together write Swift Assoc. Box 644, Athens, Tenn. 37303.”
This small article yielded 126 enthusiastic initial replies who wanted to know more. Charlie wrote and mailed the first newsletter in December of 1968….and thus the “Swift Association” was formed. After a six month trial, it was decided that the annual $2.00 dues would be raised to $5.00…mostly to cover postage, paper, and ink. Charlie’s daughter Pam, then a teenager, helped her dad by folding newsletters (which were printed on an old mimeograph machine), stuffing and addressing envelopes, and applying stamps in Charlie’s basement.
The Swift Association was off and running and soon became the “International Swift Association” after the addition of Canadian and South African members. In 1977, the organization would develop into the Swift Museum Foundation, Inc, enabling donations and further growth as a non-profit organization. The membership rapidly swelled from the original 126 members to approximately 1000 worldwide…about the same number of Swifts known to be in existence at the time.
Charlie would go on to write the monthly Swift Newsletter for the next 43 years with passion and dedication to the Swift and the organization. Success involved leadership, luck, hard work, and a dream by everyone involved to someday have a strong organization that would benefit all Swift owners.
Through the years, the fly-ins increased in size from the first Swift fly-in hosted by Bobbie Maxwell at Athens, Georgia in 1968 to the first Swift National in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1969 which recorded 32 Swifts in attendance. In later years, Swift Nationals and fly-ins included over 130 Swifts and were held at various places such as Rockford, IL; Athens, GA; Venice, FL; Seymour, IN; and finally, on to 10 years at Kentucky Dam in Gilbertsville, KY. There the annual meetings really got into high gear with the aerobatic shows by some very talented pilots: Mark Holliday, Dave D’Arcy, Bill Shepherd, Chuck Lischer and Joe “Spitfire” Wynen. Former Swift owners Larry Kingry and Harry Shepard performed in their Waco Meteors (now known as Marchettis) and were later joined by Carl Pascarell and Bob Gandt to form the Red Hawks aerobatic team.
Subsequently, it was decided that Swift should have a more permanent home and, after a lot of discussion, Athens, Tennessee was deemed the logical choice. A very important event occurred around that time as well and that was a telephone call from Univair stating they were selling the Swift portion of their business. Swifters immediately assembled emergency meetings to see if it was possible to purchase the type certificate, parts, jigs, etc. as it was the only way to keep access to actual Swift parts. Over 50% of the membership pledged support and funds for this critical purchase, a real tribute to the depth of their love for the wonderful Swift. Had they not done so, the type certificate and parts would have gone to Europe and, undoubtedly, parts would be much more expensive and hard to get today.
As a result, the Swift Museum Foundation became the owner of the Swift…. lock, stock and barrel. The down payment was made in March 1980 and the final payment was made in March 1982…. on time. Two buildings were secured to house the parts and equipment: Charlie Nelson and Jim Sliger donated their 50 x 80 hangar and Dr. L.H. Shields donated a 60 x 120 derelict hangar that needed to be finished. Inventory and logical storage of the parts was a huge challenge which Sam Wickham led the charge to fix. Joe Ranson was hired as the Swift Parts man and Dot Runyan was hired as the Office Manager. In 1987, Pam Nelson Nunley returned to Swift as an Office Manager and went on to become the Executive Director of the organization until her retirement last year.
The incredible spirit and dynamics of the Swift Association have been a constant over the years as the vision and dedication of hard working members kept it growing. It was never easy…but most times it was fun and was filled with many great days of camaraderie and a sense of achievement. And….it was all done with volunteers giving of their time, talent, and resources. As you review these past 50 years and see all that the Swift Association has achieved, from inception to the purchase of the type certificate to the recent completion of our new headquarters, it is remarkable, but it really comes down to…the people in the organization.
The People: So many incredible people…so little space. Pilots, spouses, family, and friends. There is no way to cover them all in this short space and none are more significant than others. Some readily stand out and others quietly contribute with little recognition. That in no way diminishes the accomplishments of any and all. After all we are all Swifters.
Here are just a few Swift highlights in no particular order:
The first Swift fly-in was at Athens, GA and sponsored by Bobby Maxwell. After this early gathering the first Swift National was held at Ottomwa, IA in 1969. Award winners at 1969 Swift National: John Williams, Charlie Nelson, Mark Holliday, Ed Ermatinger, Ken Smith, Skip Staub.
Executive Committee during Univair purchase:
Bob Autrey, Charlie Nelson, Carl Weddle, Bill Kientz, Bill Shepherd.
Past Leadership:
President: Charlie Nelson (SMF’s only President)
Board Chairmen:
Robert Dickson, Jim Jones, Richard Gulley, Michael Kennedy, Bill Kientz, W.L. “Bo” Mabry, Will Roberson, Pick Freeman
Executive Director:
Pamela Nunley
Present Leadership:
Board Chairman: Paul Barnett
Executive Director: Scott Anderson
Honorary President: Jim Jones
Charter Members: Approximately 240 Swift owners joined the Swift Association within the first year. We are very fortunate to have some of those charter members still with us today and are ever grateful for their leadership, friendship, and knowledge. All were pioneers for the SMF.
Formation Teams:
Swift Magic: Michael Kennedy, Lowell Sterchi, Dewayne Upton
Canadian Swiftbirds: John Northey, Gene Gillott, Jurgen Harck, Ted Audrain, Rick Scott
Team Swift Patroille de France: Romain Deveaux, Christophe Chicouene, Guilluame Feral, Frederick Grandmougin and others
Venice Vulture Squadron: Jim Jones, Jimmy Williams, Bill Nixon and John Copletz
Perennial Recent Swift National Champs: The Burrito Brothers: Bill Shepherd, Ernie Hansen, John Johnson, Gerry Mahoney et al
Speed Records:
NAA World Records: Jim Jones, Asa Brown, Scott Anderson, Charlie Nelson, Joe Ranson, Bill Jennings.
Significant Mods:
Jack Nagel, Chuck Lischer, Brian Silcox, Ayra Maya, Roy LoPresti, Vince Fette/Corbin, Guillaume Feral, Don Bartholomew, Hugh Evans, Joe Zito, Bill Haley.
Event: Pete King’s Swift now hangs in the Smithsonian National Aerospace Museum. Pete has owned this since 1947.
Event: Dutch Van Dox, President of Philippines Airlines flew his 145 Swift around the world, including a record long leg from Hawaii to San Francisco with 90 gallons fuel on board.
Event: Ponie De Wei & wife Letti flew from South Africa to London and return. 25,000 miles, much of it over hostile surroundings.
Event: 1982 Swift 50 ship fly-out from Kentucky Dam to Athens, TN.
Event: Swifts from Tennessee to Paris via Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland: Romain Deveaux and Frederick Grandmougin-(solo with no support team.)
Event: French Connection Swifts in Paris Air Show (a first). Swifts over Normandy Beaches. Landings at Le Bourget, (Lindberghs landing field.)
Event: Trips to Canada, Alaska, Grand Canyon, Statue of Liberty, Lewis and Clark trail, every state in the union and 5 continents
Event: Swift Magic performance in El Salvador.
Event: Texas Forestry Service. 5 years of forest fire service by Swifts 1948-1953. Demonstrated the ruggedness of the Swift.
Event: Swift’s New Headquarters with many volunteers with special mention to Roger Weber, Ken Coughlin, Jim Jones, Scott Anderson, Pam and Jack Nunley, Mark Holliday, Paul Mercandetti, Bryce Ulmer and….. all our dedicated Swift members who supported this project with special contributions in raising funds, planning and completing the project. A proud achievement.
Event: The Saudi Buckaroo: Bill Kientz, Charlie Nelson, Sam Wickham, Carl Weddle, Clayton Sisson, Bill Harris, Asa Brown, Jim Jones, Mark Holliday, Jim Montague, Joe Ranson, Joey Kemp, Jim Thomason, Don Aydlette and others.
Events: Decades of numerous Swift Regional Fly-Ins nationwide: Westover, Jackson,CA; Diamond Point, WA; Cottage Grove, OR; Southeast US (Stone Mountain, GA; River Ranch FL; Thomasville, GA; Jekyll Island, FL; Georgetown, SC; Brookhaven, MS; Slobovia, MS; Pensacola, FL;) Lake Havasu, NV; Red River Swift Wing: Denton, TX; Fredericksburg, TX; Pecan Plantation, TX
Events: Swift National in recent years: Athens, TN, Monet, MO, St Louis, MO, Dayton, OH; Bowling Green, KY; Cleburne, TX.
Events: Major award winning Swifts were honored as Grand Champions at Oshkosh, Sun n Fun, Swift National and other regional fly-ins.
The list of accomplishments over the years….. all done by volunteers, entrepreneurs, dedicated Swifters is truly amazing. You can now step into the 21st Century with our organization with its new headquarters and significant and growing Museum and see what a “type club” can really do when challenged.
What is next for the Swift Association after final completion of our spectacular headquarters and parts facility? This, of course, will be entirely up to the leadership and our members. Not far down the road will be the 75th anniversary of the Production Swifts in 2021. This will be another challenge to get maximum participation at Swift Headquarters, Sun-n-Fun, Oshkosh and many other venues.
The Swift Association and its members are at the forefront of all type clubs in America and around the world. We are unmatched in parts support, facilities, and our friendly people. Swift has a proud heritage that has been the epitome of spirit and a can-do attitude for decades.
It is an honor and pleasure to be associated with such a fine group of people who seemingly know no bounds to what they can and will achieve. Well done Swifters…. well done!