Bought a Fairchild 24

[Dave Hadfield]

Stan the AME came out, we buttoned it up, did the rest of the Annual (he has the greatest old cast-metal wheel-bearing grease packer) and then the weather turned crap. SO I WASHED IT! Almost a year's worth of dust and crap and mildew came off of it. I use a linseed-oil soap, and warm water, and terrycloths, and thus the thing wasn't an embarrassment when I pushed it outside.



Ran it up, shut it down, checked for leaks. All good. Cowled it up, taxied out to the strip, did a full-power run for a minute while evaluating the engine carefully -- all was good -- so we committed Aviation!

[Dave Hadfield]

I actually remember to turn my iPhone on (I forgot to charge my helmet-cam). Here's the proof...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXRlVem3-SE

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXRlVem3-SE[/youtube]

Landed, pulled the cowls, inspected -- pretty much nothing fell off! (And I wish I could say nothing leaked, but it's a Warner...)

Anyway, the next day, a job! A task! We had 2 cases of wine I had to deliver to Austin and J, in Guelph, for them to sample and choose for their wedding. So, with some lovely sunshine, off I went.




John Bond photo, as I taxied out.

[Zac Yates]

She is such a smart-looking bird, top job Dave!

[Dave Hadfield]

Out to meet Robin at Collingwood, for lunch -- that way it's a $200 hamburger, not merely a $100 one. Much better!

On the ramp was Paul G in the Pacer, and Fern Villeneuve in the Swift.



Fern is 92, still flies every decent day, and was once Captain of the Golden Hawks. Great guy.



After lunch, during run-up, Robin and I made rude faces at each other.





Lovely week-day sunny spring aviating. I LOVE being retired!

[Dave Hadfield]

This makes perfect sense, right? You drive south to the small airport where you keep your antique, load your toolbox into it, then fly north to where your wife keeps her homebuilt, so you can do the Annual. That way it takes more time, costs more, and gets complicated. Excellent!

But you get 2 more legs to fly on a spring day...





And what's really weird is there is no puddle of oil under the Fairchild cowl. Yet.

[Kyleb]

This makes perfect sense, right? You drive south to the small airport where you keep your antique, load your toolbox into it, then fly north to where your wife keeps her homebuilt, so you can do the Annual.

Sounds like somebody needs a second set of tools.

[Dave Hadfield]

I also have a 1947 40-ft wooden boat an hour's drive farther north. And I draw the line at 3 sets

[Iclo]

Hello Dave.

No way to convert the Fairchild to an amphibian / floatplane ?

[Dave Hadfield]

It was one. CF-EKC started life as a working bush plane, hauling fish from Reindeer Lake etc. There are photos of it from then earlier in this thread.

Where I live now floats wouldn't be practical. And an amphib rig would cost too much useful load.

[Scott Rose]

Thanks for the updates Dave. I find this stuff fascinating!

[Thomas_Mac]

Congrats on being in tonights Plane Savers Dave!

[Dave Hadfield]

Thanks! Yes, the whole crew admired the Spitfire and its restoration. I'm almost glad that the weather delayed my departure from the Airshow.

And the free plug for my Flying Song album didn't hurt either!

[Dave Hadfield]

I can't believe I haven't posted here for so long. I had a great summer with airplanes -- and our old ketch.

Part of the reason for not posting here is about photos. I'd like to be able to simply link them to my computer, like I do with the WoodenBoat Forum, and not have to post them to a host site first, like you do here. That adds an extra step which I sometimes don't make time for.

Anyway, it was a great season! It started with my Harvard qual...



...and continued through many meet-ups with aviation friends -- here Canada's only Meyers OTW, and a private C-310, at Orillia...



… which was a bit damp in the spring...



... and I'm pleased to say that our repairs on the 2 Warner cylinders went perfectly.

Last edited by Dave Hadfield on Fri Jan 03, 2020 12:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dave Hadfield]

When Robin and I flew to YND for my re-qual, we took her RV6a of course. Which made for a fun weekend! The Mustang is always sweet.



As was this other one, the next day's checkout.



Plus there were more trips in the Fairchild, this one to the fly-in at Guelph.

[Thomas_Mac]

Always enjoy seeing updates to this thread! Great stuff as usual.