Fairchild KR-34

Fairchild KR-34

Picture - Kreider-Reisner C-4C Challenger

Role: Utility biplane
Manufacturer: Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Fairchild Aircraft
First flight: 1928

The Kreider-Reisner Challenger (later the Fairchild KR series) was an American utility biplane aircraft designed and produced by the Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company, which was later taken over by the Fairchild Aircraft Company.

Development

The C-2 Challenger was the first commercial aircraft developed by the Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company. The Challenger was a conventional mixed-construction biplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear. It had two open tandem cockpits for a pilot (at the rear), and passenger (forward) and was powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 inline engine. A number of variants were built designated the C-3 Challenger and C-4 Challenger which had detailed differences and different engines fitted. Late in 1928 the company introduced a new and slightly smaller design designated the C-6 Challenger.

In 1929 the company was bought by the Fairchild Aircraft Company who continued the production of the C-4 as the Fairchild KR-34 and the C-6 as the Fairchild KR-21. Although not built by Fairchild the C-2 was re-designated the Fairchild KR-31.

To act as an engine test-bed a KR-21 was modified to use a Fairchild 3-690 engine (later named Ranger) and changes were made to the wing and landing-gear geometry. The modified aircraft was known as the Fairchild KR-125. In 1931 a similar aircraft without the geometry changes but with a Ranger engine was sold under the designation KR-135.

Variants

C-2 Challenger
Initial production version, later KR-31.
C-3 Challenger
C-2 with detail and engine changes.
C-4 Challenger
C-2 with detail and engine changes, later KR-34
C-6 Challenger
Smaller version of C-2, later KR-21.
KR-21
Re-designation of the C-6.
KR-31
Re-designation of the C-2.
KR-34
Redesignation of the C-4
KR-34CA
1930 attack aircraft version of the C-4C
KR-35
Re-designation of the C-4.
KR-125
One KR-21 modified to an engine test bed for the Fairchild 6-390.
KR-135
Production version of KR-21 with in-line engine.

Specifications (KR-34)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1674

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)
Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Wing area: 285 ft² (26.48 m²)
Empty weight: 1524 lb (691 kg)
Gross weight: 2368 lb (1074 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Wright J-6 Whirlwind Five 5-cylinder radial piston engine, 165 hp (123 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h)
Range: 510 miles (821 km)
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4265 m)

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1674

Fairchild KR-34 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia