It is with great regret that I would like to inform everyone that Mike Swift has passed away.

Mike has been dedicated to this hobby as long as I can remember. He was a pioneer of 3D flight and flew for Miniature Aircraft and Futaba for decades. He had become one of the greatest scale heli builders, winning the Toledo competition several times. He also began his own event, the Crow Island Fun Fly, which I believe is coming up soon, and it has been a huge success for many years. Mike and Ruth, his wife, have become icons of many events around the country. Mike will be missed by many in this hobby.

God Bless

My thoughts and prayers are with his family. The entire heli community will miss you Mike.

Holy smokes...
We will sure miss seeing him, such a great pilot and super guy.
My thoughts are with his family.

Chris

Mike,
One of the nicest person I had met. Always a pleasure to watch him fly & talk too.
My condolences to the family.
Will all miss him!
Luis

I swear never to try that trick again! What the hell is only money!

Mike was a super guy, I really enjoyed spending time with him at events, he will be missed...

I am honored to have become a friend of Mike through this hobby. He and I shared many laughs over the past 4 years and he will deeply be missed. To Ruth, Mike's wife, may I express my heart felt sorrow of which I know many in this hobby share.

Problems ? -- Mine are flown in fresh daily

I have never met Mike but I would like to pass on my condolences.

Wow. He will be missed. What a great guy to be around. Was he sick? I have been out of the hobby for a little while.

We've lost one of the best people any of us will ever meet. I cannot believe I won't get to enjoy his company at the Jamboree this year.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ruth and the rest of Mike's family.

Steve Kaluf

Steve Kaluf
Hobbico

Age

How old was Mike?

Found info on futaba website

Mike Swift
Summerville, South Carolina
A modeler since: 1979
Primary interests in R/C: Helicopters
Accomplishments: Enjoyed competition during the mid 80's through the mid 90's.
Other notes of interest: Started modeling in 1975 with fixed wing, progressing into helicopters in 1978. My first model helicopter was the Kavan Allouette. Many models followed that with my first sponsor being GMP. I support several other companies and enjoy helping anyone out no matter what they fly. Attending approximately 12 fun fly events a year, I enjoy the non competitive type of aerobatic flying, as well as supporting my other sponsors. I have supported Futaba products for 16 years and feel they are a strong contributor to our sport and hobby as we enjoy it today.

Very sad news. I have heard and read of Mike for many years but never had the chance to meet him. My condolences to his family and friends.

Jeff King

To hover is divine, the alternative is rather PLANE.

He was 57, way too young to leave us.

Andy
AMA 77227
http://www.jaxrc.com

Mike Swift

When to my first IRCHA in 93 or 94, drove up to the flight line and this guy was doing some weird stuff(it was not call 3D back then)started talking to him and he was one of the good people in our hobby, he will be miss, my payers go to his family. Bobby Sellers

Mike will surely be missed. I met him through a mutual friend back in 1991 up in Conway, NH when I was looking for someone to test fly my GMP Rebel. He made it looks so easy. I remember him being one of the first people to fly switchless inverted and watching him shoot really cool autos with his Hirobo Shuttle ZX in a wind I wouldn't even fly one of my planes in.

After a bit of a hiatus from the hobby I ran into him again in 2000 at the Crow Island fun fly. Five years later I took over the event as he and Ruth started to make plans to move south. With the passing of Ernie Huber the event was renamed the Ernie Huber Memorial Heli Fun Fly. The event is still held at Crow Island in Stow, MA the weekend after fathers day. This is very sad. I spoke with Mike just a few weeks ago about the event and him trying to make it back next year. I will miss Mike.

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I spoke with Ruth "Mikes wife" this morning. She obviously is in great shock at Mike's passing. Ruth was out of town on Monday when she asked a neighbor to check on Mike when he had not returned Ruth's phone calls. Mike was found in his hobby work shop in a chair slumped over a table. An autopsy is scheduled today to determine the cause. Ruth has asked that I contact the AMA to determine if a memorial fund benefiting the RC community can be arranged. I will pass on any details that pursue.

I am not alone when I say I have lost a close and dear friend and to Ruth and Mike's family, my sincerest condolences.

Bill Erickson

Problems ? -- Mine are flown in fresh daily

Sounds like a heart attack. Very sorry to hear. I did not know mike personally but I've been flying helis for about 16 years and he was WAY before me. He was always the guy flying the MA with no shirt on at fun fly's. Nice guy.

Will remember his wife and family in my prayers for sure.

Norman Ross Jr.

normanrossjr.wordpress.com
Team ReadyHeli
Team Insane Canopy
Team KDE Direct

Met A Few Times

I met Mike a few times over the years, and you knew right from the start he was one of the good guys... always friendly and helpful and his attitude rubbed right off onto the people that were around him... he will be missed... Best wishes to Ruth...

Stan

AMA 2918-East Coast Scale Helicopter Field Rep -Castle Creations, Haiyin Battery

Any pictures so that we can put a face to the well known name?

High Voltage just works better

I just met Mike this season. What a nice guys. My prayers go out to his family.

Clarence L. Creer III
Team Miniature Aircraft Mavrikk Blades
Team RotorRage YS Engines