Fairchild 71
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| Fairchild 71 | |
|---|---|
 Fairchild 71 in RCAF colours |
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| Type | passenger or cargo transport |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Aircraft Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) |
| Maiden flight | 1926 |
The Fairchild 71 was an American high-wing monoplane passenger and cargo transport aircraft built by Fairchild Aircraft and later built in Canada by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) for both military and civilian use as a rugged bush plane.
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[edit] Design and development
The Fairchild Aircraft Company undertook a progressive development of the Fairchild FC-2W2 light transport. Its first improvement was the FC-2, whose several improvements included:
- Slightly swept-back wings;
- Wingspan increased to 50 feet;
- Engine power nearly doubled;
- Interior changes to improve passenger comfort.
The FC-2 first flew in 1926.
The FC-2W was a further development, featuring:
- Camera bay for vertical aerial photography;
- Low-cut aft windows for oblique aerial photography.
The FC-2 and FC-2W continued the usage of fabric-covered welded steel tubing for fuselage and empennage construction, and strut-braced wooden-structure fabric-covered wing.
The FC-2W, later known as the Model 71, was built in the United States between 1928 and 1930. In 1929 Fairchild formed a company in Canada (Fairchild Aircraft Limited) at Longueuil, Quebec in 1929 to support the Canadian operators of Fairchild aircraft. The Canadian company also set up a factory production line for the Model 71, developing a variant for the Canadian military. The Canadian-built aircraft differed from the US version in that all the passenger-comfort features were removed, and the craft were built specifically for aerial photography.[1]
[edit] Operational history
The United States Army Air Service acquired one Model 71 for evaluation; it was designated XC-8, and later re-designated XF-8 and used for photographic work.
Eight more service-test aircraft, designated YF-1 were ordered; all nine were later re-designated C-8.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), another major military operator, evaluated the Fairchild 71 in mid-June 1930. Thirty four RCAF FC-71s were operated from 1930 to 1946. Along with the earlier FC-2 series, the RCAF FC-71 was utilized primarily in the aerial photographic survey role as well as northern transport. In November 1934, the RCAF transferred the FC-71s to the five detachments flying in the amalgamated Maritimes No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron at RCAF Station Dartmouth. The squadron flew the FC-71 extensively on anti-smuggling (rum running) and illegal immigration patrols for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). [1]
Most of the Model 71 production ended up in the hands of bush plane operators in Canada and the United States. Civilian operators likewise found the 71 a rugged, reliable and highly useful utility transport, well suited for northern and remote operations.
[edit] Variants
- Fairchild 71
- Initial production variant
- Fairchild 71A
- Production variant with increased swept back on wings and improved interior
- Fairchild 71C
- Canadian-built version
- Fairchild 71-CM
- Canadian-built version with metal-skinned fuselage
- Fairchild Super 71
- Floatplane version with new fuselage and greater span wing
- Fairchild 51/71
- Canadian-built version with wings of Model 51 and fuselage of Model 71
[edit] United States military designations
- XC-8
- One prototype Fairchild 71, later re-designated XF-1 when modified for photo survey.
- C-8
- YF-1 re-designated
- C-8A
- F-1A re-designated
- XF-1
- XC-8 re-designated for photo-survey
- YF-1
- Eight Fairchild 71 aircraft for evaluation with provision for seven passenger seats, later re-designated C-8A.
- F-1A
- Production aircraft (Fairchild 71A), six built later redesignated C-8A.
- R2Q-1
- One Fairchild 71 for evaluation by the United States Navy, originally designated XJ2Q-1.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
[edit] Specifications (Model 71C)
Data from Canadian Aircraft Since 1909[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 8
- Length: 35 ft 10.25 in (10.93 m)
- Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.39 m)
- Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
- Wing area: 309.6 ft² (28.76 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,168 lb (1,438 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,000 lb (2,724 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Wasp B/C 9-cylinder radial piston, 420 hp ( kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 132 mph (212.4 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 106 mph (170.5 km/h)
- Range: 817 miles (1,314 km)
- Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,353 m)
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min ( m/s)
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Shearwater Aviation Museum: Aircraft History: Fairchild 71
- ^ Molson and Taylor 1982, p. 314.
[edit] Bibliography
- Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Milberry, Larry. Aviation In Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-07-082778-8.
- Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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