GLOBE SWIFT N3232K

OWNED AND FLOWN BY
Allan & Bonnie Erickson
Chatsworth, California
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Story by Denis Arbeau
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Since 1943 Allan Erickson had wanted an airplane he could call his own. In 1946 that airplane was built but it wasn't until 1985 that he and his pilot wife Bonnie finally found it. Actually when Allan and Bonnie started looking for an airplane to own, they were focused on Citabrias (similar to ones they were renting but hopefully in much better condition).   A friend, however, told them they could do better than a Citabria, something with more speed, classic lines and aerobatic capability.  A number of things turned their attention toward Swifts. One of those things may have been the fact that they were also getting tired seeing just the tail of that same friend's Swift during the Sunday morning flights to Cal City for breakfast.

"Old Eagle Lips"  '32Kilo shown above during a Swift Fly-In at Bermuda Dunes, before repaint.

They shopped around, asked the right people the right questions, and settled on a 145hp Globe Swift, N3232K. '32Kilo was based at Southern California's Fallbrook Airport when they found it. The best way to describe '32Kilo when I first saw it was that it "had potential".  One look at the paint job explained why we gave it the name "Eagle Lips". But I was glad to see that when I ferried it to Riverside Airport it flew 1000% better than it looked.  It was at Riverside that Allan & Bonnie handed '32Kilo over to Master Swift Mechanic Buzz Winslow <flightoftwo@yahoo.com> (who now lives in Ohio). Buzz proceeded to work his own special brand of magic on "Old Eagle Lips" by doing a very thorough annual and the following...

1) Replaced the stock landing gear doors with "P-51" style doors.
2) Replaced the short "Bonanza" wing tips with originals.
3) Trimmed the cowling for a better fit.
4) Removed the old style rubber molding on the rear "D" windows and used rivets instead along with new glass.
5) Shortened the leading edge stall strips and added trailing edge fairings.
6) Replaced the rusted-out landing gear struts.
7) Installed a three-in-one engine instrument gage.

The finished product on display at the annual Merced Antique Fly-In.  If you look closely on the cowl you see what is a poker hand representing the "N" number.

With the mechanical side of things taken care of it was time to retire "Old Eagle Lips" from the sides of the fuselage. To accomplish that the Ericksons took their Swift to Aircraft Component Refinishing at that famous venue for veteran and vintage aircraft, Santa Paula Airport.  After stripping off many old coats of paint they added a paint sceme that the Ericksons designed themselves. The finished product was well worth the effort and they happily flew their pride & joy from Santa Paula back to it's new home base at So-Cal's Whiteman Airport.

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The subsequent years saw Allan & Bonnie enjoying their Swift by attending numerous fly-ins and getting more involved in the "World of the Swift" through helping to run the Southern California Swift Wing, (which they still do...), and also helping run the West Coast Swift Convention (They've retired from that...).   During that time they also finished restoring the interior and instrument panel of '32Kilo to their liking and now the package was complete.  It became clear that others liked their Swift too because '32Kilo became a multiple award winner through the years at fly-ins throughout California including Westover, Camarillo, and Merced. One of the highlights of their time thus far with '32Kilo was the trip to Denton, Texas in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary of the Swift celebration. For a pair of pilots that usually don't go more than a couple of hours flying time from home, this trip was something really special to them. (If you ever meet them ask them about flying through backyards near Amarillo...)

Swifters at work helping Allan (sitting in '32Kilo) get back in the air at Westover '88.  That's Joe "Swift Parts" Ranson, wearing the red t-shirt, in-charge of the repairs...

'32Kilo has had a couple of character building "events" since the Ericksons began their caretaking chores.  One unfortunate event occured at the 1988 West Coast National Swift Convention and turned into a true display of Swifters coming together to help their own. This was the moment when, as the Ericksons put it, "...Allan changed his status from one that will to one that has." They wrote in the November 1988 issue of their So-Cal Swift Wing Newsletter... "There is nothing worse than stepping out of your Swift and looking down on it. But as one Swifter said 'If you are going to break your airplane, Westover or Athens is the place to do it'." So... while Allan wasn't particularly happy with the mistake that caused the damage to his airplane, he had to be gratified by the all-star team of Swifters, including Joe "Swift Parts" Ranson, Claude Morgan, Dennis Wittman, and Bill Jennings that turned-to and got his Swift airborne again for the trip home in short order. After returning home permanent repairs were made and '32Kilo began it's award winning ways once again.

'32Kilo after the blown tire at their home base of Whiteman Airport.

Unfortunately, years later in November 1997, another "event" resulted in the current state of affairs concerning "Old Eagle Lips". Just as they were finally starting to recover from the financial strain placed on them by the devastating January 1994 Northridge earthquake, (which caused major damage to their home in Chatsworth), a blown tire at their home airport resulted in a ground loop & gear collapse with significant but repairable damage to their Swift. Once again they were looking down on their Swift. To their rescue came one of the best. The airframe was picked-up by Master Swift Mechanic Don Bartholomew of The Aeroplane Company in Minden, NV. Don made '32Kilo's airframe good again and then trailered it back to So-Cal.

'32Kilo on Don Bartholomew's trailer for the trip up to Don's shop in Minden, NV.

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As this is written the 145hp Continental engine is being completed and in the meantime Allan is super detailing the engine compartment. (Note to organizers of the West Coast National Swift Convention, in 2001 if you have an award for "Best Firewall" '32Kilo will win it...). With all good luck '32Kilo should be back in the air soon and once again it will grace the ramp at Westover in 2001.

Allan & Bonnie Erickson with one of many awards they have won with their Swift.

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