Fairchild 24

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_24

The Fairchild Model 24 is a four-seat, single-engine monoplane light transport
aircraft designed by the Fairchild Aviation Corporation in the 1930s. It was
adopted by the United States Army Air Corps as UC-61 and also by the Royal Air
Force. The Model 24 was itself a development of previous Fairchild models and
became a successful civil and military utility aircraft.

Fairchild Aircraft was hit hard by the Great Depression in the early 1930s as
airline purchases disappeared. Consequently, the company attention turned to
developing a reliable and rugged small aircraft for personal and business use.
The Fairchild 22 became somewhat of a hit and led directly to the new and much
improved Model 24 which gained rapid popularity in the early 1930s, noted for
its pleasant handling characteristics and roomy interior. Having adapted many
components from the automotive industry (expansion-shoe brakes and roll-down
cabin windows), the aircraft was also affordable and easy to maintain. In
production continuously from 1932 to 1948 the aircraft remained essentially
unchanged aerodynamically and internally, with the simple addition of extra
passenger seating and optional equipment. The first models were equipped with
only two seats, but in 1933 a third seat was installed and by 1938 a fourth was
added. The interior was first created for the Model 24 in 1937 by noted American
industrial designer Raymond Loewy. A minor airframe revision was made in 1938
with the redesign of the vertical fin and redesignation from C8 to F24G onwards.

As an innovative concept, the aircraft was available with two powerplants,
Warner's reliable Scarab and Fairchild's in-house 200 hp Ranger series in the
F24 C8D, E and F. Initially the 1932 model Fairchild 24 C8B used a reliable and
popular Warner 125 hp radial engine, and the Fairchild 24 C8C used the Warner
145 hp radial. American Cirrus and Menasco Pirate inline engines were also
occasionally used in some earlier Fairchild 24s. Later models such as the
popular 24Ws upgraded to the 165 hp Warner Super Scarab.

Designed for operations from relatively unimproved grass airfields, the sturdy
undercarriage construction used a vertical oil dampened cylinder above the wheel
with a pivoting strut attached to the lower fuselage. The result was a complex
but undeniably solid undercarriage that could absorb large amounts of shock and
was also adapted for the fitting of twin floats for water-based operations.

The sturdiness of construction of the aircraft has ensured many have survived to
this day. Some suggest the massive spruce main spars can be loaded up to 10g,
and while that figure is unproved, all prewar utility category aircraft were
designed to withstand at least 4.1g as opposed to the 3.8g postwar design limit
standard.


Role
STOL bush plane

Manufacturer
Fairchild

First flight
1932

Status
in service with private pilot owners

Produced
1932-1948

Number built
2,232

In civil use, the aircraft was a quick sales success, with prominent businessmen
and Hollywood actors purchasing the aircraft. In 1936, the US Navy ordered Model
24s designated as GK-1 research and instrument trainers. The type was also used
by the US Army as a light transport and by the Coast Guard, with the designation
J2K-1. The Civil Air Patrol operated many Fairchild UC-61/24s, and some aircraft
were fitted with two 100-pound bombs for what became successful missions against
German U-boats off the east coast of the United States in the early stages of
the Second World War. The UC-61 was also procured by the US Navy as the GK-1 and
by the British Royal Air Force as the Fairchild Argus.

In 1941, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) placed an initial order for
163 Fairchild C-61s; however, via Lend-Lease, 161 of these were shipped abroad.
Under the auspices of this program, the majority of the 525 Warner Scarab
Fairchild 24s/C-61s went to Great Britain. Most of these aircraft saw service as
Argus Is and improved Argus IIs and were allocated to a newly formed adjunct of
the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). An additional 306
Ranger-powered Argus IIIs were also used by the ATA. In British service, the
majority of the Argus type operated with the ATA ferrying their aircrew to
collect or deliver aircraft to and from manufacturers, Maintenance Units (MU)s
and operational bases.

The Argus I was a Warner Scarab-equipped aircraft identified by its wind-driven
generator located on the starboard struts, and was equipped with a black-painted
propeller. The Argus II was also a Scarab-powered aircraft, usually with a
transparent cabin roof. This mark was certified for heavier operational weight
than the Mark I and was identified by its yellow propeller. The Argus III was
equipped with the six-cylinder inverted inline Ranger engine.

Specifications (UC-61)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: three passengers
Length: 23 ft 10 in (7.27 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 4 in (11.08 m)
Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Wing area: 193 sq ft (17.9 m2)
Empty weight: 1,813 lb (822 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,882 lb (1,307 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Ranger L-440-5 6-cyl. inverted air-cooled in-line piston engine,
200 hp (150 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 108 kn (124 mph; 200 km/h)
Range: 404 nmi (465 mi; 748 km)
Service ceiling: 12,700 ft (3,900 m)




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