Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Light touring cabin monoplane

Power Plant:

One 123 kw (165 hp) Ranger 6-410-B1 six-cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

As noted with the Fairchild 24W, the Model 24 series of three / four-seat cabin monoplanes was introduced to the American market in 1931 by Fairchild Airplane & Engine Corporation of Hagerstown, Maryland and became popular over the years, with some 17 different models being produced. Two basic engines were provided, a radial and an in-line, but the latter was not as popular and most aircraft were produced with the Warner Super Scarab radial.

The type was used extensively by military services during World War II, with many supplied to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease. Initial engine fitted was the six-cylinder Ranger 6-410-B1 or B2 providing 123 kw (165 hp) at 2,350 rpm. However, the militarized aircraft known as the UC-61K Forwarder in 1943 had the newly developed Ranger 6-440-7 engine which provided 149 kw (200 hp) and many of these were supplied to the British military.

The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) impressed a number of civil aircraft in 1942 as the UC-86 for communications duties. The F24R-40 model of 1940 was a Deluxe variant with a 131 kw (175 hp) Ranger 6-410-B3 engine. The F24R-46 model had the Ranger 6-440-C2 engine of 131 kw (175 hp) at 2,450 rpm and had provision for a larger fuel tank with a capacity of 227 litres (50 Imp gals). This model was also available with the 149 kw (200 hp) Ranger 6-440-C5 engine.

The Fairchild F24 series was a high-wing monoplane with seating for four. It could be fitted with Edo model 45-2880 twin floats and skis were optional. Behind the rear seat the baggage compartment had a capacity of 0.198 m³ (7 cub ft) and allowance was generally between 51 kg (112 lb) and 63 kg (140 lb).

At the conclusion of World War II Fairchild was still very much involved in the production of military aircraft and sold the rights to the F24 series to Temco in Texas which resumed production of the Ranger-powered model as the F24R-46, some 150 being delivered and production continuing into 1947, although the basic design remained unchanged from 1939 to 1947. Production of the series concluded in 1948.

A number of examples have been registered in this part of the world. VH-ACV (c/n 416), an F24R-9(W), was first registered in October 1939, being impressed by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as A36-1 during World War II. In June 1946 it returned to the civil aircraft register but crashed at Nhill, VIC on 4 February 1951. It was re-built as VH-BVF and had a number of owners over the years. It was retired in 1971 and has been stored awaiting restoration.

VH-ABZ (c/n 3314), a F24R-46A Argus III, was first registered in November 1938. It was impressed by the RAAF as A36-2 during the war, returning to the civil aircraft register in March 1946. In 1945 it was fitted with a Menasco Pirate C-4S four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engine but the following year it was fitted with a Ranger 6-410. It has survives and has been based at Wedderburn, NSW.

VH-ACW (c/n 415), a Model 24R-9, was registered in October 1939 and had many owners over the years, being retired in 1971.

VH-ADF (c/n 407 – ex NC47053), a Model F24R-40/m, was registered in May 1940 and was once the personal aircraft of Lord Richard Casey, who at one stage was the Governor General of Australia, and was based at Berwick, VIC. It was presented to the RAAF for use as a communications aircraft in January 1944, becoming A36-4. It returned to civil use in October 1947 and had a number of owners thereafter, at one stage being based at Albion Park, NSW, later being obtained by John Gallagher in Sydney, NSW and has been awaiting restoration.

After World War II a large number of surplus Fairchild F24s were sold, some being fitted with 149 kw (200 hp) Ranger engines. One Ranger- powered machine, an F24R-64, was imported from the United Kingdom and became VH-AAQ (c/n 973 – ex G-BCBH, ZS-AXH, HB737, 43-15011) for a period from April 1982, being based at Rutherford, NSW, but later returned to Britain in June 1983.