| Swift | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Type | Single-seat sporting aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Comper Aircraft Company Ltd |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 45 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1930–1933 |
| First flight | January 1930 |
The Comper C.L.A.7 Swift is a British single-seat sporting aircraft designed and produced by the Comper Aircraft Company. It was the company’s first aircraft.
The Swift was designed shortly after Nicholas Comper’s departure from the Royal Air Force to focus on the project. It was designed to be an affordable and compact aircraft that was capable of equivalent performance to that of typical twin-seat light aircraft of the era. The prototype aircraft performed its maiden flight during January 1930; quantity production proceeded shortly thereafter. The majority of aircraft produced were powered by the Pobjoy P radial engine.
It proved to be a relatively successful long distance touring aircraft, conducting multi-day flights to Australia and across the United States amongst other destinations. The Swift gained particular notoriety for its participation in various air races, regularly proving itself to be competitive. One aircraft, owned by the then-Prince of Wales and future King Edward VIII, won second place in the 1932 King's Cup Race. It continued to be appear in air races, particularly those held in Britain, through to the mid-1950s.