Bought a Fairchild 24

[Dave Hadfield]

Later, before the VWoC Airshow in Sept, my parents were there, and checked out Jim, a volunteer, on the operation of the Hucks, which is now in our hangar there.





Jim of course immediately spotted a need for it, and put the thing into operation. (I don't know, it may be a First....)





And here's the commemoration plate on the back of the Hucks,

[Pogo]

Neato!! I see there's an access hatch in front that allows one to address the Huckster's crank handle? Had me worried until I spotted it, I kinda like hand cranking T's even when they have self-commencers, just has a certain satisfaction to it. Well, I assume Hucks has a starter, be kinda ironic for such a vehicle not to have one...

[Dave Hadfield]

Kurt, yes, we made sure the front deck would hinge up so that the engine could be hand-started if required. Some of Dad's "Ts" have starters, some not.

My son Austin joined me one day in October, and we flew the Fairchild down to Milton for "firewood day" on the farm. The field was planted in corn unfortunately, and it was a good growing year. Fortunate for farming... not so good for landing -- the cornstalks were 8 ft tall, and the strip quite narrow, so we landed at nearby Burlington Air Park.

Robin had raffled-off a flight in the Fairchild as a prize for some event -- I forget which -- and the winner was there to collect her prize. She caught a nice series of photos of our landing.










photos by maggie knight

[Dave Hadfield]

And we headed out into the field, filled a grain truck with split hardwood, came back and got busy.





Every one of those stackers is a professional pilot. There is about 80,000-plus flying hours between them. But all that matters at the end of the day is this...



Dave

[Dave Hadfield]

Then at the end of the day, as Austin and I flew home, there was still a little daylight left, so we dropped into Ronan's on the way, where there was some late-season gliding going on. It's a nice wide strip, and Austin landed and took-off -- he's never had a chance for a check-out on the airplane.











Dave

[AIRIC]

Dave, I will say the Hadfields know how to work hard. Bernadette and I want to wish everyone all the best for the New Year. Hope to see you guys at a few more events this year. Cheers.

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks, Eric. All the best to you and Bernadette.

Yes, perhaps we can cook up another air-to-air or two...

I've always thought Larry Q's Bellanca Cruisemaster would make a good subject.

Also, there is a cabin Waco at Edenvale now.

Dave

[Fleet16b]

Thanks, Eric. All the best to you and Bernadette.

Yes, perhaps we can cook up another air-to-air or two...

I've always thought Larry Q's Bellanca Cruisemaster would make a good subject.

Also, there is a cabin Waco at Edenvale now.

Dave

I agree with Dave regarding the Bellanca .
It has a really nice paint job and I just happen to know who painted it for Larry

[DH82EH]

There is a couple of DH82A's at Edenvale too!

Andy

[AIRIC]

Looking forward to next summer. We will have to plan a fun fly day. The Bellanca would make a great shoot as well as the two 82A Moths. Did not know about the Cabin Waco being at Edenvale. Have not been there in awhile.

I’m trying to rustle up some winter shoots for practice. Hopefully do some ski flying soon. Dave, I will never forget that day you dropped me off on the frozen lake and then took off. I’m a city boy and soon realized I was not prepared for an emergency. We did get some good shots for Canadian Aviator. Fun times.

[Dave Hadfield]

I haven't lost a photographer yet, Eric!

Andy, yes, that's a great photo of the 2 Moths. That's totally unique in North America, 2 DH-82As, both unmodified, still flying with tailskid and no brakes -- together at the same airfield!

There's got to be a story and article about that!

Dave

[Canso42]

Hey Pogo, I bet we've got enough stuff around out at the 'Drome to build a Hucks.
Is the Edenvale Waco Jeff Skiles old YOC? Ex NC15244?

[DH82EH]

Yes Canso.
The YOC is a beauty!
Jeff Skiles sold it to David Grainger.
The new Canadian registration is a rather fitting, CF-YOC

Andy

[Dave Hadfield]

The Fairchild is in its hangar which is buried in snowdrifts, but I was recently sent some photos by a friend who occupied the back seat in the P-40 during a formation training flight last September, before the VWoC airshow. I hadn't really done much formation in 2013, and neither had the Corsair pilot, Francis B, so we had the gloriously good fun of a mutual form training trip. [I posted these under "Real Life Warbirding" as well.]

Climbing in...



Taxying out...



Forming up...



Station change...



Taking Lead...



Line Astern...



Thumb up...



Dave

[Dave Hadfield]

Robin got an honour a little while ago. She has run the Gathering of the Classics, Canada's largest Fly-In, for the last 5 years. At this years AGM she asked that someone else take it over. And they had a ceremony and gave her this plaque.





And then we went flying. Canadian flying.







No flying since! The Fairchild is a bit too big to easily handle on skiis (and has no cabin heat) and Alliston is under 2 ft of snow. And we've had the RV cowl off for a refit. Very, very snowy winter!

Dave