Swift Museum

The Swift Museum (Swift Museum Foundation) is an aviation museum located at McMinn County Airport in Athens dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Globe/Temco Swift airplane​. Inside the hangar-like museum, visitors can see several restored Swift aircraft on display, including the original prototype #1 built in 1946 and other historically significant models​. The exhibits include engines, vintage aircraft instruments, and memorabilia that tell the story of how these sporty two-seat planes were manufactured in Athens in the late 1940s. The foundation’s volunteers actively maintain and even fly some of the planes – during the annual Swift Nationals fly-in each summer, dozens of Swifts from around the country gather at the museum’s home base. Open weekdays by appointment (and during special events) with free admission, the Swift Museum provides a unique look at local aviation history and a chance to get up close with classic aircraft​​.