The Swift | Natural Flight Reinvented

WHAT IS THE SWIFT?

The Swift is a high-performance biomimetic drone (ornithopter) that flies using pure flapping wings, just like a real bird.

Instead of propellers forcing air downward, The Swift generates lift through real aerodynamics — producing a flight that feels more natural, more fluid, and far more engaging.

Designed for both thrilling speed and precise low-speed control, The Swift can fly fast in open air, slow down gracefully indoors, and remain stable and predictable thanks to onboard sensors and smart flight assistance.

This is not a propeller drone.
It’s a new category of flying experience — where piloting feels closer to flying than to operating a machine.

Proven by experience, not promises

BionicBird has been designing and building biomimetic flying machines for over 15 years.

We have launched 4 crowdfunding campaigns, raised over €1M, and delivered to more than 9,000 backers worldwide.

From our very first backers to today, we continue to support and maintain our flying products long after delivery.

The Swift Core Strengths 

Fast Flight — Real Aerodynamics

✓ Up to 31 km/h in open air.
✓ Lift generated by flapping wings, not propellers.
✓ Aerodynamically optimized airframe for agile, precise trajectories.

Graceful at Slow Speed

✓ Stable, controlled flight from 3.5 km/h.
✓ Smooth wing response for delicate maneuvers.
✓ Suitable for indoor flying in calm air and confined spaces.

Total Control — Anywhere You Fly

✓ Two interchangeable tails for outdoor speed or precise indoor control.
✓ Real-time stabilization with adjustable assist levels.
✓ Optional X-Play joystick for true RC-style control.

Scroll down to see real flight footage and detailed performance features.

ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE

Unleash the potential of Bionic Performance. 
With The Swift, we went back to what matters: PURE FLIGHT. 
Every detail is fine-tuned — lightness, power, aerodynamics, and balance — to deliver the most exhilarating biomimetic experience we’ve ever created.
That’s why The Swift is not just another ornithopter — it is the culmination of our quest for ultimate Speed, Stability, and Control.

Pure Speed: The Flight That Blurs the Sky

We refined the design to minimize drag and maximize thrust. The Swift reaches speeds up to 31 km/h in its high-speed configuration — fast, agile, and thrilling. Even the motors and batteries aren’t off-the-shelf: each component was specially developed with our manufacturing partners to match our unique needs.

✓ Up to 31 km/h top speed (Speed Tail + low incidence)
✓ Custom-developed motor + battery system (not standard parts)
✓ Aerodynamics inspired by nature — smooth gliding flight

The sky is your playground! With a robust 150 meters (500 ft) remote control range you have the freedom to soar higher and explore further. 

Two Tails. Two Personalities.

Swap the tail and instantly change how The Swift behaves in the air — from rocket speed to ultra-slow precision. Each tail includes 5 incidence settings, so you can tune the feel to your style and your environment.

✓ Speed Tail: fast, agile, high-energy flight
✓ Precision Tail: ultra-slow, stable, controlled flight
✓ 5 settings per tail to fine-tune speed, glide, and response

Unrivaled Stability: Surgical Precision in the Air

Speed without stability is frustrating. The Swift integrates a next-gen stabilization system that keeps the flight smooth, predictable, and precise — even when conditions are less than perfect. 

✓ Real-time gyro/IMU corrections (continuous measurement + correction)
✓ Adjustable assist levels (from raw feel to highly assisted)
✓ Built for real-world flying: stable trajectories and confident handling

Fly with confidence, even when the wind picks up. Our integrated Real-Time Gyro Stabilization acts as a digital co-pilot resulting in a “zero-drift” experience.

Built to Fly. Built to Take Hits.

Lightweight doesn’t mean fragile. On impact it’s even the opposite (try to break a feather by dropping it on the floor).
At just 10.9 grams, The Swift is a masterpiece of weight optimization. Less mass means more reactive maneuvers in the air and, crucially, much higher resilience.

The Swift combines a resilient EPP body with carbon-reinforced + titanium structures, designed to absorb everyday bumps without sacrificing performance.

✓ EPP foam body for impact-friendly resilience
✓ Carbon rods for structure and elasticity
✓ Designed for repeated flights

Mastered Control: The Mobile Experience Reimagined

Take command effortlessly with your smartphone. The app is streamlined for beginners, yet deep enough for pilots who want to tune every parameter and keep improving.

✓ 4 flight modes for a progressive learning curve
✓ Fully configurable interface (slider response, min/max tilt)
✓ Cruise control modes + interactive help throughout the app
✓ Safety: emergency stop + motor cut on signal loss
✓ Diagnostics: motor data logging + OTA firmware updates

The FlyingAPP® is compatible with iOS and Android.

X-Play: Turn Your Smartphone into a True RC Controller

Want the precision of a real joystick? The optional patented X-Play transforms your smartphone into a true RC-style controller for confident inputs, muscle memory, and fine control — especially at speed.

✓ True joystick feel for precise control
✓ RC-style two-hands flying 
✓ Ideal for fast flight and advanced maneuvers

Take off from the ground — or hand launch.

The Swift can take off directly from the ground thanks to its micro-wheels. Place it down, apply throttle, and it lifts smoothly into flight. For rough terrain, a simple hand launch is always possible.

✓ Ground takeoff on: floors, tiles, asphalt
✓ Not suitable for: grass, sand, gravel, mud, soft soil
✓ Hand launch option for any terrain

Multicolor LED — Fly at Dusk with Style

The integrated multicolor LED helps you keep orientation in the air and unlocks a spectacular night-flight look.

✓ Choose from 7 colors
✓ Better orientation visibility in the air
✓ A beautiful “night flight” vibe

Where You Can Fly

From indoor precision to outdoor cruising, The Swift adapts to your environment. Tune it for the space you have — and the feeling you want.

✓ Indoors / office: ultra-slow precision
✓ Outdoors: smooth cruising lines
✓ Open spaces: speed + maneuvers
✓ Seaside: fly smart with wind awareness

Natural Flight vs Propeller Flight

Propeller drones are built to hover. The Swift is built for the sensation of flight — more organic, more fluid, and deeply satisfying at both ultra-slow and high speed.

✓ Feel: glide-like vs hover-like
✓ Sound: wingbeat character vs prop buzz
✓ Experience: precision at low speed, thrill at high speed

What’s included

Packed with care, you’ll find in the box:

✓ The Swift fully assembled airframe
✓ One pair of wings, the high-speed tail and the slow-flight tail
✓ The TurboCharge™ charger
✓ The optional X-Play joystick will be packed separately

TECH CORNER

For the technically curious: here are the core numbers and components behind The Swift’s performance.

THE SKY IS YOUR PLAYGROUND

With its 150 meters (500 ft) remote control range, The Swift allows you to fly as high as you can see it, explore further, and draw wide, elegant trajectories in the sky.

Whether you’re carving long outdoor lines or enjoying open-air cruising, The Swift is designed to let you fully experience the space around you.

Seen by experienced RC pilots

The Swift has already been tested by independent RC aviation creators.
Among them, Ken Heron — a long-time RC aviation reviewer with over 395,000 subscribers — shared his first impressions after flying The Swift, bringing his well-known sense of humor to the experience.

His feedback highlights how different natural flight feels compared to traditional RC aircraft. Here is a short excerpt:

Real Flights. Real Wildlife.

Sometimes, even the locals want a closer look 🙂 It’s actually the funniest moments we had during testing. As we know no damage never occurs from seagulls curiosity.

A fun compilation of playful, harmless encounters with curious seagulls — just part of the outdoor adventure.

From MetaFly to The Swift

MetaFly introduced natural flight to thousands of pilots around the world.
It made flapping-wing flight accessible, intuitive, and fun.

The Swift builds on that legacy and takes it further — pushing speed, glide efficiency, and control precision to a level that was simply not possible before.

Among the many improvements, here are the most significant advances.

Flying Speed — Expanded Flight Envelope

Glide Efficiency — Staying in the Air Longer

Glide efficiency defines how long a flying machine can stay airborne once power is reduced.
With its optimized wing dynamics and mass distribution, The Swift maintains lift significantly longer during gliding phases, even from moderate altitude.

This results in smoother transitions, longer lines, and a more bird-like flight feel.

Control & Trajectory Precision

The Swift is designed for clean, predictable trajectories.
It can maintain straight flight paths, execute turns without losing altitude, and recover smoothly thanks to its stabilization and control logic.

MetaFly, intentionally simpler, exhibits more natural drift during straight flight and may lose lift when over-banked in turns.

CHOOSE YOUR VERSION

Standard Package

Everything you need to fly in both fast and slow mode:

✓ The Swift airframe
✓ Wings
✓ Fast tail (interchangeable)
✓ Slow tail (interchangeable)
✓ The Swift TurboCharge™ Charger with its USB cord 
(*powerbank not included)

Bundle package

Precision Pilot Bundle
For pilots seeking ultimate control.
Includes the patented X-Play joystick for RC-style precision, smoother inputs, and confident flying at speed.

Includes: The Swift standard + X-Play joystick

Addons

Spare flight kit
Complete replacement set for the Swift’s flying surfaces.

X-Play Joystick
Our patented X-Play joystick, turning your smartphone into a true RC-style controller for precise, confident control.

Pricing Overview

The Swift is built using purpose-designed components developed with our manufacturing partners, often in limited series — a necessity for true biomimetic flight.
Despite these constraints, we’ve optimized our processes to offer the most competitive pricing possible on Kickstarter.
Early tiers are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.