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 Post subject: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 09 May 2019, 12:49 
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Joined: 08/14/16
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Company: RCAF
Aircraft: Sikorsky S61
Looking for our next aircraft, I've come across a type that doesn't seem to have much written about it. My last ownership experience was really jumping in with both feet (1950 De Havilland Beaver), requiring total rebuild. Now, the wife and I are looking for a small mission affordable machine for day trips around the Pacific Northwest. She's a military airframe tech with the patience for fabric aircraft - but do any BTers have feedback on these machines?

Small mission means about 100NM with just the two of us (with occasional longer jaunts); it would be hangar-kept; and my interest in the Warner (radial) over the Ranger (inverted inline) relates only to my generally favourable prior experience with radials: which is the better motor / flier? Thanks!


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 09 May 2019, 13:02 
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Joined: 03/17/08
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The Fairchild is a wonderful airplane and the Warner is a wonderful engine. However, the Warners are becoming hard to find parts for. Not impossible, just difficult. There is nothing wrong with a Ranger engine. It has the torque to pull a plow.

A lovely airplane. Buy one and bring it to Blakesburg Iowa for Labor day weekend. The Antique Aircraft Assn flyin. Its a hoot....

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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 09 May 2019, 15:03 
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Thanks Doug! I'm glad that there seem to be several available. I have a few months to continue gathering facts and soliciting for "things I wish I knew before I bought a Fairchild" as I'm on deployment at the moment.

I'm surprised to see that there are 24s with either wood props or constant speed: I don't know another type to offer that variety (typically the discussion is hydraulic or electric, or two vs. three blades).

Do you know if all frames are fitted for floats? My initial scan seems to indicate so (that there is no 'float kit', per se).


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 09 May 2019, 21:24 
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The Fairchild 24s are fine flying machines. All bearings on the controls. Light and responsive. As was pointed out, the Warners are somewhat hard to support, but are good engines when they are in good shape. You just need to be prepared to dig around for parts sometimes. Al Holloway in California did work on my Warner. A F24 with a 165 would be an excellent airplane. The 145s are also good, but you want to find one that doesn't require the rocker arms to be greased manually.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 12 May 2019, 22:32 
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I once spoke with a gentleman who had purchased a 24W and flew it from California to Florida where we were both based. He complained about the 115mph cruise speed and the associated fuel consumption (which I do not recall) that he experienced.

My thinking was that you purchase a Fairchild because you want a Classic, not for performance. Performance was something he should have considered before making the purchase.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 14 May 2019, 05:54 
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Thanks Tom & Brian. Yes, it is indeed a classic. There's a brilliant blog on Warbird Exchange about a Canadian owner (who has about as much credibility in the warbird arena as one can get) as he fiddles with the Warner motor and other airframe nuances. I understand it burns around 11gph - at speeds that most burn 7-9gph!

I remain keen to give the type a try, and came across a UC-61 converted to a Jacob radial by STC. As a Cessna 195 fan, I've learned that those engines are eminently more supportable and more powerful than the Warner, along with CS prop. I'm not certain any more speed can be had out of the frame, but I'd bet it's better for short runways and in the climb.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 14 May 2019, 06:34 
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Thanks Tom & Brian. Yes, it is indeed a classic. There's a brilliant blog on Warbird Exchange about a Canadian owner (who has about as much credibility in the warbird arena as one can get) as he fiddles with the Warner motor and other airframe nuances. I understand it burns around 11gph - at speeds that most burn 7-9gph!

I remain keen to give the type a try, and came across a UC-61 converted to a Jacob radial by STC. As a Cessna 195 fan, I've learned that those engines are eminently more supportable and more powerful than the Warner, along with CS prop. I'm not certain any more speed can be had out of the frame, but I'd bet it's better for short runways and in the climb.


A Jake with a C/S would make an animal out of a Fairchaild....

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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 14 May 2019, 12:39 
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Joined: 02/06/18
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My dad had one back in the 60's. Don't know much about it but he spoke fondly of it. My mom, not so much.




Ron

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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 14 May 2019, 14:18 
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I don't know much about them except that one of our local CAP guys has one and has it dressed up like a WWII vintage CAP sub patroller, and he does the WWII cosplay thing with it. It's kind of a behemoth of a machine for a 4 place single. The cabin is roomy like a Cadillac. No wonder it burns so much gas for the speed.

There were variants with Warner radial engines. I'd bet the extra horsepower just barely made up for the extra drag, though.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 15 May 2019, 00:14 
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There is an older A&P active on pilotsofamerica by the name of Tom Downey. He used to have a shop somewhere in the islands, iirc Friday Harbor. He rebuilt one some years back but unfortunately rolled it into a ball at some point. While he has lets say a rather controversial online persona, he is certainly someone I would talk to if I was in the PNW and considering a Fairchild.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 15 May 2019, 06:56 
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Username Protected wrote:
There is an older A&P active on pilotsofamerica by the name of Tom Downey. He used to have a shop somewhere in the islands, iirc Friday Harbor. He rebuilt one some years back but unfortunately rolled it into a ball at some point. While he has lets say a rather controversial online persona, he is certainly someone I would talk to if I was in the PNW and considering a Fairchild.


+1

That was a gorgeous resto he did.

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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 15 May 2019, 08:37 
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Joined: 08/14/16
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Company: RCAF
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Florian - thank you very much! I'll track him down.


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 15 May 2019, 08:55 
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Florian - thank you very much! I'll track him down.


At this point all he does is engine repair work out of a shop at his house. At least on the internet, he has a propensity to get into arguments with other A&Ps about FAA legalities and I don't know enough to say whether he is right or wrong.
I do think he has a wealth of experience when it comes to Fairchilds, radial engines and fabric planes in general. So that is where I would stay with the conversation if I ever met him in person ;-)


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 Post subject: Re: Fairchild UC61 (24W)
PostPosted: 15 May 2019, 09:50 
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Noted, thanks! I'll stay in that lane.


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