Comper Gipsy Swift G-ABWW .......0396

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The Shuttleworth Model Collection

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Gipsy Swift in Prince of Wales Guards colours as raced in the 1932 Kings Cup Air Race, subsequently owned by Richard Shuttleworth.

Kit includes self coloured Astrolux cards (red, blue and silver), one Ivorex, etched metal, moulded wheels, vac-forms and decals.

Comprehensive history of Nicholas Comper and the Swift, including specially prepared colour 5 view

AIRCRAFT HISTORY

G-ABWW was one of four specially prepared racing Swifts built in 1932 and fitted with the 140 h.p. DH Gipsy Major 4 cylinder in-line engine. G-ABWW was initially bought by HRH The Prince of Wales to add to his fleet of personal aeroplanes (others included a DH 84 Dragon, DH 83 Fox Moth, DH 89 Dragon Rapide) and was flown into second place on handicap (fastest on elapsed time) in the 1932 Kings Cup Air race by Flt. Lt. Fielden, the Prince's personal pilot.

After the race, G-ABWW was purchased by R O Shuttleworth who had preciously purchased two other Swifts. R O Shuttleworth was a great enthusiast for the Swift, and was a shareholder in the Comper Aviation Co.

The Gipsy Swift was capable of over 165 mph with a 140 mph. cruise and a 1,400 ft/min climb. These were quite astonishing performance figures for such a low powered machine and were almost equal to those of contemporary fighter 'planes.

Nick Comper with G-ABWW