Fairchild 71

Fairchild 71

Picture - Fairchild 71 in RCAF colours

Role: passenger or cargo transport
Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada)
First 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.

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.

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).

Picture - Fairchild 71 in original PanAm colors

Picture - Fairchild 71C at the Western Canada Aviation Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba

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.

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

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.

Operators

Military operators

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

United States

United States Army Air Corps
United States Navy

Specifications (Model 71C)

Data from Canadian Aircraft Since 1909

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 x— 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)

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.

Fairchild 71 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia