Thunder & Lightnings

Supermarine Swift - Walkaround Photos

This page will be revamped in due course - I have taken some improved photos but have not as yet had time to add them to this page.

Cockpit

All of these cockpit pictures are of the F.4 procedures trainer cockpit section at the Southampton Hall of Aviation (now Solent Sky). Thanks to Kim Raquet and Dave Betteridge for arranging special access including opening up the Swift cockpit back in the days when it wasn't usually opened up - nowadays it is usually available to sit in!

F.4. Overall view of the cockpit and the instrument panel. Overall finish of the cockpit is black, with paint scuffed off areas such as the floor revealing bare metal. F.4. Looking down at the seat pan and starboard console. F.4. Looking down at the seat pan and port console. F.4. General view of the instrument panel. F.4. An older shot - green hue due to a poor print scan. Looking back at the seat top and canopy. F.4. An older shot - green hue due to a poor print scan. Looking back at the seat top and canopy.

Nose

Port nose - cockpit area. Nose, showing camera window and nose gear leg and door. General view along starboard side. General view of starboard nose. General view along starboard side.

Fuselage

Mid port fuselage underside. Port flap bay at top left. Mid fuselage underside, looking towards port flap and undercarriage. Port rear fuselage. General view along rear starboard side and wing. Mid fuselage underside looking towards nose. Starboard main gear inner door on left edge of shot. General view of mid starboard fuselage, showing stencil positions.

Wings

Port flap. Mid port fuselage, showing port flap and looking towards starboard flap. Port wing upperside. Port wing underside. Shows roundel position, flap angle and the shape of the forward end of the aileron. Starboard flap.

Undercarriage

Nose gear and door, looking aft. Leg, bay and door inner face are all sprayed silver. Nose gear bay viewed from nose gear leg, looking forward. Nose gear bay, looking up and towards rear end of bay. Similar view, but lower down showing top of gear leg - looking aft towards rear end of bay. Nose gear and door, viewed from aft, looking forward. Really a shot of a Fairey Fireflash missile, but also shows port aspect of the nose gear leg and wheel. Port main gear, viewed from inboard, looking outboard. Port main gear leg mounting and rear of bay, looking aft and outboard. Lowered flap at bottom of picture. Port main gear bay and inner door, looking starboard. Note bulge in the door. Starboard main gear, looking at top of leg and bay. As with nose gear, this area is sprayed silver. Starboard main gear bay and inner door, looking to port. The bay here is not sprayed silver entirely; traces of what was presumably the original finish remain (PRU blue?). Starboard main gear, viewed from ahead, looking aft. Lowered flap in background.

Tail

Jetpipe. Blocked unfortunately... Rear fuselage from underneath, looking forward. Rear port fuselage. Port wing also in shot showing navigation light mounting. Port mid fuselage. Rear starboard fuselage, showing serial presentation. Rear starboard fuselage, showing rear wing position. Note the small intake aft of the serial and the hole in the fuselage above the elevator hinge. Tail and rudder, showing trim tabs.