Fairchild 42

Model 41 and Model 42 Foursome
Model 41
General information
TypeUtility aircraft
ManufacturerFairchild
Designer
John Lee
Number built8
History
First flight19 November 1927

The Fairchild Model 41 Foursome is a light aircraft developed in the United States in the late 1920s and produced as the Model 42 Foursome. It was a conventional high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The pilot and three passengers were seated within a fully enclosed cabin, and the aircraft generally resembled a scaled-down version of Fairchild's successful FC-2 design. Two prototypes were built as the Model 41 and Model 41A leading to the Model 42 production version which was built in a small series. This production version differed from the prototypes in having a redesigned, strut-braced empennage in place of the wire-braced unit of the earlier aircraft, and a more powerful version of the Wright Whirlwind powerplant.

Variants

Model 41 Foursome
First prototype four seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 220 hp (160 kW) Wright J-5, one built
Model 41A Foursome
Second prototype four seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-5, one built.
Model 42 Foursome
Production four seat cabin monoplane, powered by 330 hp (250 kW) Wright J-6 engines, six built and two converted from the 41 and 41A.

Surviving aircraft

NC106M has been rebuilt to airworthy standard in Alaska as of July 2008, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior and converted to seat 7 passengers, with rear round windows added.[1]

Specifications (Model 42)

Data from U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 3 (ATC 201–300)[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
  • Wingspan: 45 ft 6 in (13.87 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)
  • Wing area: 290 sq ft (27 m2)
  • Airfoil: Göttingen 387
  • Empty weight: 2,676 lb (1,214 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,246 lb (1,926 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 100 US gal (83 imp gal; 380 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6 , 300 hp (220 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 109 mph (175 km/h, 95 kn)
  • Range: 700 mi (1,100 km, 610 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 15,300 ft (4,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 720 ft/min (3.7 m/s)
  • Time to altitude: 10 minutes to 5,350 ft (1,630 m)

References

  1. ^ skupniewitz, mike. "fairchild project". Retrieved 8 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ Juptner 1966, pp. 125–126.
  • Juptner, Joseph J. (1966). U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 3 (ATC 201–300). Fallbrook, California, US: Aero Publishers, Inc.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 353.
  • aerofiles.com