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 Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...

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. Commercial Aviation Stamp 1926-76 Scott -1684

Commercial Aviation Stamp 1926-76 Scott -1684

When the

Air Mail Act of 1925 The Air Mail Act of 1925, also known as the Kelly Act, was a key piece of legislation that intended to free the airmail from total control by the Post Office Department. In short, it allowed the Postmaster General to contract private companies to ...

came into force,

Walter Varney Walter Thomas Varney (December 26, 1888 – January 25, 1967) which combined under United Continental Holdings in 2010, long after his death in 1967. Varney was also one of the most prominent airmail contractors of the early 20th century. Varne ...

tendered for route CAM 5,Juptner 1962, p.135United Airlines Historical Foundation which connected

Pasco, Washington Pasco ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 77,108 at the 2020 census, and estimated at 80,038 in 2023. Pasco is one of three cities (the others being Kennewick and Richland) t ...

with

Elko, Nevada Elko is a city in and the county seat of Elko County, Nevada, United States. As of the official 2020 U.S. Census, the city has a population of 20,564. Elko serves as the center of the Ruby Valley, a region with a population of over 55,000. Elko ...

via

Boise, Idaho Boise ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Idaho, most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Loca ...

,Bowers 1976, p.91 crossing the

Cascade Mountains The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as many of those in the ...

.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 Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously ...

. 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 In aviation, hot and high is a condition of low air density due to high ambient temperature and high airport elevation. Air density decreases with increasing temperature and altitude. The lower air density reduces the power output from an aircra ...

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 Varney Air Lines was an American airline company that started service on April 6, 1926, as an airmail carrier. Formed by Walter Varney, the airline was based in Boise, Idaho, United States. The airline is one of the predecessors of United Air ...

with Curtiss C-6 engines, re-engined with Wright J-4s

Specifications (New Swallow)

Notes

References

Bibliography

Aerofiles: Specifications and images of Swallows
* * * * * {{cite book , last= Taylor , first= Michael J. H. , title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation , year=1989 , publisher=Studio Editions , location=London 1920s United States civil utility aircraft Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1924 Aircraft with conventional landing gear