UC-61K getting closer to assembly!

[UC61K]

Hi All
Just thought I would post some proud "Dad" pictures of our 1943 Fairchild UC-61K / ARGUSIII

It is USAAF# 43-14964 she went to the RAF in Mid 1944 and was assigned to A.T.A (Air Transport Auxiliary) and possibly other units.

Sometime in her history she came back to the states in pieces and never was put back together. We found her in a Barn in Central Illinois about 15 years ago. Many nights, weekends and missed family gathering seem to be paying off!

Our Goal is to have her in the air before first snow falls here in the midwest.

Day ONE after recovery

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b49 ... nvrkvn.png

As of July 2015
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b49 ... t8azy0.jpg


Keep 'Em Flying
Jim C
Midwest Aeronautique LLC

[Dan K]

Very, very nice.

So, warbird or vintage parking at OSH 2016?

[CH2Tdriver]

Beautiful work!

[UC61K]

Looking to put her in Warbird area at OSH 2016.
Never saw a true UC61K in the warbird parking area.
I've seen a couple of fakes over the years in the vintage area
will keep all posted on progress

Jim

[BennoT6]

Hi,

Looks great!

N24FM / 43-14964 / HB690 was registered in The Netherlands from May 13 1948 till September 10 1970 as PH-NDI.

Regards,

Benno

[Sammy-E]

I have seen pictures on a wall in the house of the original owner of your plane. PH-NDI (The Netherlands) The house is still owned by that family
Was curious about her history and got here. I will try to get those foto's posted here.

The links to the photo's above do not work anymore ... we would love to see the airplane in her current condition!

Greetings
Eric

[UC61K]

Not sure where the pictures went???
Here are a couple more updates:
moved out of work shop into hangar, then wings and gear installed 2 weekends ago.
this past Friday we put on the Ranger Engine, Cowling and Prop.
This was our full scale mock up for a open house at Clow Int'l Airport in Bolingbrook IL.
We are based in Hangar 2

Hope you like them!

P.S. I would really enjoy seeing pictures of HB690 when it was PH-NDI (we do have a small data plate with PH-NDI stamped on it)

[imghttp://rs1288.pbsrc.com/albums/b493/RampRatOne/UC-61/Move%20to%20Hangar%2005.16-5_zpsslazfs9q.jpg~c100][/img]
making it lighter before we wheel it out into the hangar


Out in the Hangar with our L-5

[UC61K]

Wings a Gear on, first time on her own feet since the Netherlands..... way back in the 50's or 60's


Ranger Motor Installed

[UC61K]

All Cowled up and ready for her first Public Appearance at the 2016 Cavalcade of Planes Bolingbrook IL.




HB690 in the evening sun!


hope you enjoy!
Now all we need to do is hook up all the parts and get her in the AIR!!!

thanks
Keep 'Em Flying
Jim C.
Midwest Aeronautique LLC
UC-61K USAAF #43-14964 / RAF # HB690

[rwdfresno]

Jim, a beautiful transformation. Congratulations. She looks beautiful. I've always been a fan of the Fairchild 24 series and love the sound of those Ranger engines.

[Dave Smith]

A beautiful job on a lovely aeroplane. The Air-Britain HA100-HZ999 serials book has her assigned only to ATA during her career and 'Returned to US May 8 1947'. She was one of a batch of 115 Argus Mk IIIs delivered between June and August 1944. She would have been used as a taxi ship for ferry pilots.

That 'returned to US' probably means US control rather than to the USA. Quite a few of that batch went to the Czech and Dutch Air Forces soon after the war.

[Sammy-E]

Thanks, and wow what a beautiful plane!!
I will try to get you the pictures of her as she was just after the war.
I know there are 2 pictures on a wall, but maybe the family has more in an album.

Greetings Eric

[Sammy-E]

https://plus.google.com/114165498474072 ... hW5gDKRjef