Photo ID: 1011445
click image to enlarge |
Model: Fairchild 24R-46 |
Registration: N81362 |
| Year: 1946 |
Serial Number: R46262 |
| Engine(s): Ranger 6-440C-5, 200-HP, 6-cylinder inverted inline |
Owner: John D. Amundsen
Soldotna, AK |
Location: PAMR, Merrill Field
Anchorage, AK |
Photographer: Ken Stoltzfus |
| Date: July 2004 |
Present Registration: Same |
Present Owner (FAA info): Same |
Notes: 9/16/04 - I spotted this pretty, post-war Fairchild 24 at Merrill Field, Anchorage, AK.
FAA records include the Application for Registration dated 9/5/46, from Fairchild Personal Planes Division, Dallas, TX, for Fairchild Model 24R46, s/n R46262, NC81362. Then there is a Production Flight Test Report the next day. This is neat stuff to read and you can get it on CD for any aircraft for five bucks.
The 9/10/46 Factory W&B shows a Ranger 6-440C-2, 175-HP engine with a Sensenich 86RB60 prop. It indicates two 30-gal. fuel tanks. On 9/3/47, Fairchild installed a Koppers Aeromatic propeller, hub model 220, blades 0-85. This mod required an alteration to the oil temperature regulator. On 2/14/57 someone replaced the Aeromatic with a wood prop.
N81362 has had 24 owners over the years including three partnerships. Most owners were in Oregon and Washington where it changed hands quite often, but it has been in Alaska since 1971. A complete list of owners and some other information follows the last photo. |
Photo ID: 1011446
click image to enlarge |
Notes: I'm not sure what avionics the Fairchild has now, but on 3/34/64 someone installed a Skycrafters VHF Superphone radio. Wow!!
This aircraft is quite stock. However, a 3/29/91, FAA '337, covers the installation of an 82" Curtiss Reed 55518-10, aluminum fixed pitch prop. A Ranger 6-440C-5, 200-HP engine had been installed at some point, possibly around that time. I'll bet that with those two upgrades it performs nicely. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011447
click image to enlarge |
Notes: The Fairchild 24 has a steel tubular fuselage with wood stringers and formers to shape it. The wings are fabric covered, wood construction.
A 7/19/49, CAA '337 shows rudder, wing, and wing strut repairs. Oops, looks like it was on its back. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011448
click image to enlarge |
Notes: Want to buy a Fairchild? Well, in July 2004, N81362 was for sale, and only $37,900! It is amazing what has happened to prices on these old birds.
That's probably a reasonable price for a machine of this quality, but check out these numbers from the past and laugh - - or cry! The 9/47 buyers had a $5,972.28 Chattel Mortgage, probably representing something close to the price of the new aircraft. The 5/60 purchaser had a $2,031 mortgage. The 11/71 buyer paid $2,000, and the proud new 10/73 owner paid $4,600. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011449
click image to enlarge |
Notes: The Ranger engine makes for a much more sleek aircraft than its radial-powered brother. I understand that the Ranger is a very smooth running engine, but I never flew behind one. At least not yet. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011450
click image to enlarge |
Notes: That's your Curtiss Reed prop there. They have been hard to find and very expensive, but I believe they are being manufactured again. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
History from FAA files:
9/5/47 sold to Aero Corporation of Pacific, Monterey, CA.
9/20/47 to J. Kendall Hockensmith and H. H. Beckett of Portland, OR.
12/20/48 to Andrew Boyles of Walla Walla, WA.
2/5/49 to Firchan Brother's Logging Co., Lebanon, OR.
11/7/51 to Roy F. Owen Company, Portland, OR.
1/21/52 to H.A. Parsons & Paul Priest, Portland, OR.
2/13/53, 442:45 TT at annual inspection.
7/7/53 to Harry B. Hutton, Portland, OR.
7/26/54 to R.W. Schulenberg, Portland, OR.
9/7/54, 471-TT at annual inspection.
11/27/55 to Donald L. Forbes and Elmer Surratt, Salem, OR.
12/55, 496-TT at annual inspection.
4/12/57 to Renton Aviation, Inc., Renton, WA.
8/5/57 to L.R. Barthelomew, Easton, WA.
4/8/60 to Ralph M. Hanson, Lynnwood, WA.
5/28/60 to Donald J. Campbell, Seattle, WA.
9/28/60 to D&D Flying Service, Port Orchard, WA.
11/9/60 to A. J. Tucker, Sedro Wooley, WA.
10/14/66, FAA '337, covered fuselage with Stits Poly Fiber.
12/1/70 to LaVerne Tegland, Lynde, WA.
11/10/71 to Terry C and Monte L. Jordan, Glenn Allen, AK.
10/29/73 to Lonnie R. Chesnut, Anchorage, AK.
3/86 to John D. Amudsen, Soldotna, AK.
1/21/90, FAA '337, wings recovered with Cooper Superflite |
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