Fairchild 42 Explained

The Fairchild Model 41 Foursome was 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 220hp Wright J-5, one built

Model 41A Foursome:Second prototype four seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 300hp Wright J-5, one built.

Model 42 Foursome:Production four seat cabin monoplane, powered by 330hp Wright J-6 engines, six built and two converted from the 41 and 41A.

Survivors

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]

References

• Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 353 .
• aerofiles.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: skupniewitz. mike. fairchild project. https://archive.today/20130124190852/http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.skup/FairchildProject. dead. 24 January 2013. 8 November 2013.