The Fairchild 82 and the 34-42 Niska were a family of utility aircraft produced in Canada in the mid-1930s, based on designs by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada)'s parent company in the United States.
Model 82 and 34-42 Niska
Fairchild 82 float plane at Forty Mile, Yukon, July 1938
Canadian Airways Fairchild 82A CF-AXE on the goldfields in 1938. The skis have been set over some logs to prevent them from freezing to the surface
In 1929-1930, Fairchild (Canada) designed an eight-seat transport known as the Model 81. The single prototype was powered by either a 575 hp (429 kW) Pratt & Whitney Hornet or an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar. The design was a "one-off" and did not enter production.[1] In 1934, the parent company had also developed the Super 71 but only four were built. Undaunted, the company continued to refine the design and produced the Model 82 the following year. This retained the stretched forward fuselage and separate flight deck that had been a feature of the Super 71, but increased passenger and load capacity.
The resulting aircraft proved a modest success, with three sold to the government of Venezuela, one to the government of Mexico, and another seven going to various Canadian regional airlines. Variants with various powerplant changes followed, three of which went to Argentina.
The final development of this design was the 34-42 Niska, incorporating changes made after N.F. Vanderlipp joined the company from Bellanca (the new model reflecting Bellanca's idiosyncratic model numbering, and taking its name from an indigenous people of Canada). After unsuccessful trials with its 420 hp (310 kW) Ranger powerplant, the aircraft was converted back to a Model 82D standard with a S3H1 Wasp. Only a single example was built, and today it remains as the sole example surviving in Canada.[2]
Operational historyedit
Fairchild 82 CF-AXC of British Yukon Navigation, on the ice at MayoDominion Skyways Fairchild 82
The Fairchild 82 was a rugged aircraft and it found a niche as a freighter especially in northern Canada, although export versions were used for a variety of roles including surveying and light transport. It was operated by numerous Canadian firms including Canadian Pacific Air Lines. While its main competitor, the Noorduyn Norseman was finding success with military orders, Fairchild decided to abandon the bush plane market temporarily in favour of producing the Bristol Bolingbroke bomber for the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force immediately prior to the Second World War.
The company had intended to enter the postwar civilian market with an upgraded Model 82 but the original tooling had been destroyed during the war years. The remaining Fairchild 82s remained in service until the late 1960s.[3]
A 40-year-old mystery of the Arctic was solved when the remains of a Fairchild 82 were found south of Bathurst Inlet. Chuck McAvoy was flying a pair of American geologists on 9 June 1964 when they disappeared. An extensive search ensued at the time but was unsuccessful, and it wasn't until in 2003 when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) finally found the crash site.[4]
Variantsedit
Model 82A - original production version (12 built)
Model 82B - version with uprated engine (8 built)
Model 82D - version with increased maximum takeoff weight (4 built)
34-42 Niska - refined version with new tailplane (1 modified from 82D, later modified back to 82D standard)
Fuerza Aérea Argentina Two Fairchild 82D purchased in 1937, initially assigned to survey duties with the Instituto Geográfico Militar. Both aircraft retired by 1963.[5]
Armada Argentina One Fairchild 82A purchased in 1938, used for aerial photo survey duties. Retired in 1947.[6]
Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN0-920002-11-0.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989, p. 354. ISBN0-517-10316-8.
"Venezuela Refurbishes Her Aerial Sombrero". Air Enthusiast, Vol. 5, No. 3, September 1973. pp. 118–124, 150.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 894 Sheet 04.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild 82.
"Flying Box Car Is Equipped To Land Anywhere" Popular Mechanics, December 1935 right side of pg. 858
January 01, 1970
fairchild, niska, were, family, utility, aircraft, produced, canada, 1930s, based, designs, fairchild, aircraft, canada, parent, company, united, states, model, niska, float, plane, forty, mile, yukon, july, 1938, role, civil, utility, aircraft, manufacturer, . The Fairchild 82 and the 34 42 Niska were a family of utility aircraft produced in Canada in the mid 1930s based on designs by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd Canada s parent company in the United States Model 82 and 34 42 Niska Fairchild 82 float plane at Forty Mile Yukon July 1938 Role Civil utility aircraft Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft Ltd Canada First flight 6 July 1935 Number built 24 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Surviving aircraft 6 Specifications Fairchild 82A 7 References 7 1 Citations 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development edit nbsp Canadian Airways Fairchild 82A CF AXE on the goldfields in 1938 The skis have been set over some logs to prevent them from freezing to the surface In 1929 1930 Fairchild Canada designed an eight seat transport known as the Model 81 The single prototype was powered by either a 575 hp 429 kW Pratt amp Whitney Hornet or an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar The design was a one off and did not enter production 1 In 1934 the parent company had also developed the Super 71 but only four were built Undaunted the company continued to refine the design and produced the Model 82 the following year This retained the stretched forward fuselage and separate flight deck that had been a feature of the Super 71 but increased passenger and load capacity The resulting aircraft proved a modest success with three sold to the government of Venezuela one to the government of Mexico and another seven going to various Canadian regional airlines Variants with various powerplant changes followed three of which went to Argentina The final development of this design was the 34 42 Niska incorporating changes made after N F Vanderlipp joined the company from Bellanca the new model reflecting Bellanca s idiosyncratic model numbering and taking its name from an indigenous people of Canada After unsuccessful trials with its 420 hp 310 kW Ranger powerplant the aircraft was converted back to a Model 82D standard with a S3H1 Wasp Only a single example was built and today it remains as the sole example surviving in Canada 2 Operational history edit nbsp Fairchild 82 CF AXC of British Yukon Navigation on the ice at Mayo nbsp Dominion Skyways Fairchild 82 The Fairchild 82 was a rugged aircraft and it found a niche as a freighter especially in northern Canada although export versions were used for a variety of roles including surveying and light transport It was operated by numerous Canadian firms including Canadian Pacific Air Lines While its main competitor the Noorduyn Norseman was finding success with military orders Fairchild decided to abandon the bush plane market temporarily in favour of producing the Bristol Bolingbroke bomber for the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force immediately prior to the Second World War The company had intended to enter the postwar civilian market with an upgraded Model 82 but the original tooling had been destroyed during the war years The remaining Fairchild 82s remained in service until the late 1960s 3 A 40 year old mystery of the Arctic was solved when the remains of a Fairchild 82 were found south of Bathurst Inlet Chuck McAvoy was flying a pair of American geologists on 9 June 1964 when they disappeared An extensive search ensued at the time but was unsuccessful and it wasn t until in 2003 when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police RCMP finally found the crash site 4 Variants editModel 82A original production version 12 built Model 82B version with uprated engine 8 built Model 82D version with increased maximum takeoff weight 4 built 34 42 Niska refined version with new tailplane 1 modified from 82D later modified back to 82D standard Operators edit nbsp Fuerza Aerea Argentina Fairchild 82D nbsp Argentina Fuerza Aerea Argentina Two Fairchild 82D purchased in 1937 initially assigned to survey duties with the Instituto Geografico Militar Both aircraft retired by 1963 5 Armada Argentina One Fairchild 82A purchased in 1938 used for aerial photo survey duties Retired in 1947 6 nbsp Venezuela Aviacion Militar operated a single Fairchild 82B 7 Surviving aircraft edit nbsp Fairchild 82D on display in Moron Argentina Fairchild 82D LV FHZ T 152 msn 66 formerly of the Instituto Geografico Militar is on display at the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica in Moron Argentina Fairchild 82A CF AXL msn 61 formerly of Starratt Airways Ontario Central Airlines Canadian Pacific Airlines and others is currently when in the reserve hangar at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa Ontario where it can be viewed on the guided tour Specifications Fairchild 82A editGeneral characteristics Crew two pilots Capacity nine passengers Length 36 ft 11 in 11 25 m Wingspan 51 ft 0 in 15 54 m Height 9 ft 5 in 2 86 m Wing area 343 sq ft 31 9 m2 Empty weight 3 060 lb 1 388 kg Gross weight 6 325 lb 2 869 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Wasp 9 cylinder air cooled radial engine 525 hp 391 kW Performance Maximum speed 155 mph 249 km h 135 kn Range 655 mi 1 054 km 569 nmi Service ceiling 15 650 ft 4 770 m Rate of climb 900 ft min 4 6 m s References editCitations edit Molson and Taylor 1982 p 320 Molson and Taylor 1982 p 321 322 Molson and Taylor 1982 p 323 Human remains plane wreckage may solve 40 year old northern mystery The Canadian Press 8 August 2003 Retrieved 8 March 2008 Fairchild 82 Fairchild 82 Air International September 1973 p 121 Bibliography edit Donald David ed The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Etobicoke Ontario Canada Prospero Books 1997 ISBN 1 85605 375 X Milberry Larry Aviation In Canada Toronto McGraw Hill Ryerson Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 07 082778 8 Molson Ken M and Taylor Harold A Canadian Aircraft Since 1909 Stittsville Ontario Canada s Wings Inc 1982 ISBN 0 920002 11 0 Taylor Michael J H Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions 1989 p 354 ISBN 0 517 10316 8 Venezuela Refurbishes Her Aerial Sombrero Air Enthusiast Vol 5 No 3 September 1973 pp 118 124 150 World Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing File 894 Sheet 04 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild 82 Flying Box Car Is Equipped To Land Anywhere Popular Mechanics December 1935 right side of pg 858 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairchild 82 amp oldid 1191663119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
