Prior to the Second World War, Fairchild Aviation produced a range of stylish touring aeroplanes that enjoyed popularity as the comfortable sedan-cars of the sky. First launched as a side-by-side two-seater in 1932, Fairchild's model 24 was an immediate hit with private and business users and successive advances saw the seating capacity grow to three and then four seat configuration. Part of the glamour and appeal of these aircraft was the attractive styling that evolved through the art-deco era, when streamlining considerations led to such things as the large, voluptuous wheels covers, or 'spats', fairings, and cowlings with streamlined humps on them, all reflecting that stylish era. For the occupants, the goal was to provide the experience of riding in a luxury touring car of the era, a 'Packard with wings' if you will. This included a roomy interior with leather option for upholstery and familiar internal furniture like door handles which were sourced from the motor industry, and wind-up windows, again using handles from period automobiles.
A total of 2,232 model 24s were built, nearly half of them during the WW-II period when they were provided to the US Army Air Corps and to the RAF under lend-lease. New Zealand never saw any Fairchild aeroplanes until after the war when three former RAF examples were ordered for delivery to this country. Only two arrived and enjoyed relatively short flying careers before disappearing into history. Happily, the classic Fairchild is making a come-back in New Zealand and the subject of this week's 'Home-Of' Omaka resident Trevor Collins' lovely 1934 Fairchild F-24C8c. This was found as a derelict 'basket-case' in the USA after which 'TC' shipped it home to Marlborough and commenced a ground up restoration, stripping the fuselage down to the bare steel tube structure and building it back up from there. TC then applied a colour scheme appropriate once again to the era to produce the wonderfully stylish aircraft you see here. The aircraft was test flown on 1st May 2017 and proved a delight to fly ever since.
Image: Fairchild F-24 - Photo by Gavin Conroy
The Fairchild company meanwhile went on to build such familiar aircraft as the Metroliner small airliner and the A-10 'Warthog' ground attack aircraft. Visitors to previous Classic Fighters airshows at Omaka over the years will have watched TC's Fairchild come together in 2-yearly instalments but will have also noted a second Fairchild progressing alongside it. That aircraft, a war-time production model F-24W, served with the Royal Air Force during WW-II, later moving to Australia and ceasing to fly in the early 1960s. It has been under active restoration at the Classic Wings Magazine hangar here at Omaka since 2014 and is now very close to completion so we intend to have it on display in the Golden Age of Aviation corral during the airshow and flying in the event if we have been able to get it licensed in time.
Image: The Classic Wings Fairchild F-24W - Photo by James Orphan
BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET!
There is in fact now a THIRD vintage Fairchild resident in New Zealand to further enhance the Golden Age Glamour era of aviation and this is a very different looking machine as it is an exceedingly rare 1934 Fairchild F-45, a low wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage. Just 17 were built, of which just four are known to have survived. This third New Zealand Fairchild is also based right here at Omaka and still has a few years of work to be done before it can join the ranks for the flying 'Fairchildren'. With Omaka home to these three pre-war classics, along with other treasures of the 'Golden Age of Aviation' like the Ryan ST; Fox Moth, Fleet 16B, Beech 18, Tiger Moths, and other looming aircraft from the stables of Waco, Stinson, Lockheed etc., we expect to be celebrating this magical era in aviation history for a long time to come!
About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ. 2021 will be Classic Fighters Omaka’s 20th anniversary.
The show is has been postponed until September 03-05 2021 and tickets are available at www.classicfighters.co.nz or at the gate.
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