The story
The Swift arrived in 1946 selling exactly what returning wartime pilots wanted: retractable gear, a low wing, and looks straight off a fighter ramp. The boom was so hot that 833 were built in a single six-month stretch — and Swift owners remain a devoted cult to this day.
Globe and TEMCO built 833 GC-1B Swifts in just six months during the 1946 postwar aviation boom.
Quick answers
How do you identify a GC-1 Swift?
Low-wing polished-metal taildragger with retractable gear and a sliding canopy — reads like a scaled-down warbird from across the field.
What does a GC-1 Swift sound like?
A small Continental with a sporty bark — many are re-engined and sound even feistier.
How fast is the GC-1 Swift?
Top speed is 130 kts.
How many passengers does the GC-1 Swift carry?
Up to 1. A typical layout is side-by-side 2-seat.
How far can the GC-1 Swift fly?
Range is about 360 nmi.
How big is the GC-1 Swift?
It is 20 ft 10 in long and 29 ft 4 in across the wings.
When did the GC-1 Swift first fly?
Its first flight was in 1942.
How many GC-1 Swifts have been built?
1,521 built.
How rare is a GC-1 Swift in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first GC-1 Swift catch is worth 25 points.
