Fairchild 24 Restoration

Trade a Plane cover

2011-12-06T14:35:00.001-08:00

My Fairchild made the cover of Trade a Plane this month. http://www.trade-a-plane.com/coverphotos

2011-09-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Test Flight landing

2011-04-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Test Flight

2011-04-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sitting pretty on the Ramp

2011-03-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

We test ran the engine for the first time. Started right up. Check out the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI_jcd_Cgpw

2011-01-23T15:21:00.000-08:00

Fitting end caps

2011-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

New tread plate installed

2011-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Making new tread plates

2011-01-23T15:12:00.001-08:00

Door Skins

2011-01-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

I started making the left door skin jig tonight. This is a picture of the first attempt. I inset strips of metal around the perimeter to help make accurate straight bends.

2011-01-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Gear leg fairings

2011-01-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I spent several hours on getting a lot of the fairings ready to paint. I fitted the right gear leg fairings. This was very time consuming but worthwhile. Gear fairing are a mix of old and new. The original lower fairings were in great shape minus a few cracks needing to be welded. Prep, paint and install. Photos to follow.

2011-01-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

2011-01-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

2011-01-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

2011-01-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

Installing Wings. They have not been on the plane since 1952

2011-01-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Last of the Fabric

2011-01-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

FABRIC WORK IS DONE!!!! This past weekend I had the opportunity to get the aileron covered stitched and doped. Time to focus on the wheel paints and door skins.

taking fuselage to the airport. Glad we are only 5 miles away.

2010-12-28T19:20:00.000-08:00

2010-12-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

2010-12-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

Wings on for the first time since 1952

2010-12-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

New skin in place.

2010-02-01T18:14:00.001-08:00

All joints reglued and glueing on the new skin.

2010-02-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

2010-01-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

I got a lot of work done over the holidays on the 24. I am still working on the 2nd and final wing. The wing is now tremmled (sp?) and ready to put the new leading edges on. I hope to have this started this week.

Ready to install

2009-12-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

2009-12-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

2009-12-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Overhauling engine with my good friend Joe Denest

2009-12-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

2009-11-30T20:07:00.000-08:00

Left Wing

2009-11-30T20:04:00.000-08:00

In this picture I just finished installing the new leading edges. Time to Varnish!

Dads little helper

2009-11-30T19:59:00.001-08:00

I found this picture of JJ sanding the rear seat frame. He now informs me he will be doing the test flight.
JJ sanding the rear seat frame.

Wings

2009-11-30T19:49:00.000-08:00

The rebuild of the wings continue. The left wing is complete minus installing the new electrical wiring and test fitting the landing light. The right wing is moving along. Tonight I got side tracked and installed a few instruments I just got back from the overhaul shop instead. I have to finish the butt rib and then it is time to install the metal back into the wing. I plan on getting this rib finished tomorrow night.

2009-11-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

Oil Cooler and tank

2009-11-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

After spending a lot of time, money and energy repairing the oil tank I found a NOS tank that will be replacing this one in the picture. The dent in the side drives me nuts every time I look at it.

Engine 0 SMOH

2009-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

Installing instruments and avionics

2009-11-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

Front seats and interior installed

2009-11-29T19:45:00.000-08:00

Back on her gear

2009-11-29T19:44:00.001-08:00

2009-11-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

Tennessee Red and Daytona White

2009-11-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

Base White

2009-11-29T19:39:00.000-08:00

Sanding the belly.

2009-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

Silver UV (time to sand)

2009-11-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

Time for Nitrate Dope

2009-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

Fabric work

2009-11-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

I like this view.

2009-11-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

Glueing Ceconite

2009-11-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

Fuselage Ready To Cover

2009-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Battery Box

2009-11-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

Firewall pad and interior

2009-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

Side Panels and Carpet

2009-11-29T19:26:00.000-08:00

Rear Seat Installed

2009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Baggage Compartment Lid

2009-11-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

New Headliner Installed

2009-11-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

New Floorboards Installed

2009-11-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

Baggage Compartment

2009-11-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

New baggage bag made using the original as a pattern.

Doors

2009-11-29T19:15:00.000-08:00

Rebuilt doors.

2009-11-29T19:13:00.000-08:00

Lots of wood!!

2009-11-29T19:12:00.000-08:00

Bulkheads and stringers

2009-11-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

I made all new bulkheads and stingers using the originals as patterns.

Fuselage sand blasted and epoxy primed and painted.

2009-11-29T19:04:00.001-08:00

2009-11-29T18:58:00.000-08:00

Here is my new project. A 1946 Fairchild 24. My dad and I drove a 26' Penske truck up from del Ray Beech Florida, 17 hours. All said the trip was quick but a great time. Now the work begins.