1. Limits of use – Weight – Speeds – Load factor
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The Swift'Light is a foot launch able glider designed to fly in lift.
Unlike other footlaunchable aircraft, with the Swift’Light it is easy to fly much faster than
the Vne (Never Exceed speed). To fly safely it is important to keep in mind the speed
limits, and always stay under these limits.
- Aerobatic maneuvers and spins are forbidden.
- Authorized maneuvers:
- 60° of bank in the roll axis
- In pitch: - 30° nose up in respect to the horizon
- 30° in a dive in respect to the horizon

- Pilots weight range: 55 to 100 kg (120 а 220 lbs)
- Vne (Never Exceed speed): 120 km/h or 74 mph
- Vra (Maximum speed in Rough Air): 100 km/h or 62 mph
- Va (Manoeuvring speed)1: 85 km/h or 53 mph
- Vfe (Maximum speed with flaps set to 20° or more): 80 km/h or 50 mph
- Vs (Stall speed, flaps set to 0°) at maximum take-off weight: 37 km/h or 23 mph
- Maximum load factors: + 5,3 g/- 2,65 g (tested with 1.5 safety coefficient).

The flaps
===========
 The flaps are controlled with rope and clamcleat.
Pulling the rope adds flaps deflection and slows the
wing while pitching the nose up slightly. Thorough
knowledge of all the flight characteristics of the Swift at
various flap settings is necessary in order to fly the
Swift safely.
Modify the flaps setting allows you to change your
glide angle and in effect the minimum speed.
A mark on the control rope indicates 0° when lined up
with the clamcleat end facing to the pilot.
The angular value is shown on the front triangle
sticker.
- Sudden release of the flaps can cause loss of altitude
near the ground. You must check that the cord is well
cleated before manoeuvring near the ground.
Experienced pilots keep their hand on this control to be
able to adjust their glide angle.
You can control the 0° value of the flaps lining up the
elevons and the flaps with the tip fairings (winglets).

Rudders
=======
The rudder pedals move the winglet flaps. Rudder pedals are usually used to control
the yaw. By opening the 2 winglet flaps together, rudder pedals acts also as air brakes.
A rope that you find on the left diagonal tube can adjust the foot pedals. This
adjustment allows you to adjust the position of the foot pedals for different pilots,
changing your position in flight, and also to put both rudders out to increase drag for
landing on foot. To get maximum rudder movement to use as brakes the pilot must
adjust the foot pedals as high as possible.

Take off
========
1. In general
- Towing and aero towing should have good radio communication.
- Do not over control; the Swift tends to auto correct deviations due to turbulence in
part.
- Do not keep the controls in extreme positions (too much back stick, flaps at 30 or 40
degrees) this will decrease the efficiency of the wing

2. Aero towing
==============
Hook in the tow cable to the tow hook on the front tube. Being connected here
gives great towed stability. Ideal towing speed is 70km/h (= 43 mph), but you can
tow between 70 and 90 km/h (56 mph). A weak link is essential.
- Flaps 10 to 15 degrees, keep the joystick slightly forward. The machine takes off
very quickly.
- Quickly climb slightly above the tow machine, to get out of its turbulence.
- Trim with the flaps to reduce joystick pressure.
- In general the pilot does not need rudders for towing because
of the good natural directional stability.
- In turbulence if the tow cable slackens you can put both rudders out to generate
some drag.

Winch
======
  Flaps set from 10 to 15°, keep the joystick slightly forward. The machine takes
off very quickly.
- Make sure you have adequate speed in respect to height close to the ground in
case of a cable break.
- Make sure you know where the winch is because the visibility to the winch is very
bad.
- Trim with flaps do not go over 15 degrees.
- Keep the speed between 60 – 80 km/h (or 37 – 50 mph).
- Do not release under tension.

In Flight
==========
The Swift is easy to fly, and gives very good control authority.
- Beware of the speed: the Swift has very little drag and can rapidly go very fast. And
the fairings do not allow a pilot use to other forms of free flight to realize the speed.
- Consequence: always fly with a good air speed indicator!
The Swift has very little inertia in pitch but much softer roll and yaw characteristics.
There is a tendency for inexperienced pilot to pitch oscillate and over control. This is
not dangerous.
In general avoid ‘piloting’ too much the machine. The Swift flies very well on its
own. It flies in a straight and in a stable manner. All control actions decrease the
performance of the machine.

Adapt the flap setting and the speed to the situation:
- Take off: flaps 20° (10° in strong wind)
- In lift: flaps 10°, speed + / - 43km/h or 27 mph (min. sink)
- Best glide: flaps 0°, speed 65 to 75 km/h (40 to 47 mph) in no wind conditions.
- High speed: negative flap
- Never Excedd Speed (Vne): 120km/h or 74 mph
- Maximum speed in Rough Air (Vra): 100km/h or 62 mph

Landing
=========
  Do an approach at the right speed: classic error is to come in too fast. In this
condition, the Swift is very long to land, the aircraft can fly all the field without landing or
otherwise very violently. On the final approach, no faster than 50 km/h or 31 mph
(depending of course of the weather conditions – estimated wind gradient, wind speed,
turbulences).
- Use the brakes, meaning the rudders together. To get maximum effect, it is necessary
to use full brake deflection: before landing, set the rudder pedals as high as
possibleiii.
- The more flap you have on, the slower you fly, and consequently the more
adverse yaw. The control response decrease at low speed. Avoid high bank turn near
the ground on approach.
It is best to do a classic glider approach (not an S-turn approach as in paragliders or
hang gliders)
- Down wind leg, flaps 0 to 20°
- Base leg, flaps 20°
- Final, flaps at 20° with a speed between 45 and 50 km/h (28 and 31 mph).


Technical data and speeds
==========================
Empty 48 kg / 106 lbs without fairing
Maximum take off weight 158 kg / 347 lbs (version without motor)
Span 12,8 m / 42 ft
Surface area 12,5 mІ / 136 ftІ
Aspect ratio 12,9
Sweep (at 25% of the cord) 20°
Recommended pilot weight 55 а 100 kg (120 а 220 lbs)
Vne (Never Exceed Speed) : 120 km/h or 74 mph
Vra (Maximum Rough Air Speed) 100 km/h or 62 mph
Va (Manoeuvre Speed) 85 km/h or 53 mph
Vfe (Maximum speed with flaps set to 20° or more) 80 km/h or 50 mph
Vs (Stall Speed, flap sets to 0°) at maximum take-off weight 37 km/h or 23 mph
Minimum Speed, flap sets to 20° at maximum take-off weight 32 km/h or 20 mph
Best Glide 27 : 1 @ 70 km/h / 43 mph
Minimum Sink 0,6 m/s @ 43 km/h / 27 mph
Load Factor: + 5,3 g/- 2,65 g (with 1.5 safety coefficient).
Wings made in composite materials:
The skin is in a sandwich of aramide/Carbon / epoxy / PVC foam
The spar is mainly carbon/epoxy
The cockpit frame is made in Cromoly (steel 4130), aeronauticquality, TIG welded, and
aluminum tubes in Zicral alloy.