Re: 1942 Fairchild 24R "Argus" Brakes WANTED

[MILLET Airy-Hugues]

'Hello!

As I discovered this week-end this maillist, I will try to present quickly myself and the
plane I am leading the maintenance on, in a association named "Nostalg'Air d'Eure et Loir"
based in Chartres -France-.

In fact I am following the maintenance of this plane since one year, the plane was in
airworthy conditions but needed some good hands of somebody who knows a little bit in old
mechanics and especially old aircraft. That way our second cylinder which had only 42/80
as compression leak ratio, did recover a good health during winter 2001 as the five other
cylinders too! Nowadays every cylinders are 78/80 after 25 hours flight last summer!

But that was possible only because we had brand new spare parts in stocks! (it is not the
case for everything...see forward)

It fly around 100kt cruise speed without wind (otherwise it will be 100mph!!) powered by a
200HP 6 inline-cylinders inverted Ranger, and a Sensenich wooden fixed pitch propeller!
(We may be interested by documentation about "aero-matic"(or a name looking alike!) woody
variable pitch prop!! and its availability)

The landing gear is of the "Argus" type with reinforcement rod. But we will be very
interested in having some advice for wheel pants! to enhance "her" image! of course!!

The interior lining is of grey upholstery with light blue leather seats (rear and front)
and door lining too.

As this plane was an ex-militatry one it also as the top windows and stores..very
interesting for sunbath, but quiet hot in best summer days!!....but what a pleasure to fly
with the arm on the open glass door!!

BUT...

Today we are encountering big problems with brakes, as it was possible to clean and
"overhaule" the right handside wheel and brake last year (between two airshows or fly'in,
without changing any parts), we didn't spent to much time on the left handside, but last
week-end after a short roll on our airfieldtrack the left side brake
locked!!..definitely..it wouldn't unlock anymore!!..what happened??
So, we decide to open! And we discovered that some spring-clips were broken and that most
of others were badly corroded (so, the pressure couldn't be released by the springs
forces!)... (I do not have any idea of the age of those parts, but last major overhaule of
the engine took place in 1963 -before I touch it-, and last plane fabric cover is from the
begining of the 80's -dacron-).

After dicussing of such problems last year with other hydraulic-tube type airplanes'owner
we were in between to change everything for modern brake system, or keeping the original
way of thinking but with new part, ...but today we must replace at least springs, and
maybe both whole set of brakes accessories (expander-tube, pads and springs of 9-1.1/2"
size..ref G-2-122..if I am wrong please correct it!...to be sure of our brakes!), as we
are going in a hurry just two months before airshows season begining!! We will be very
kind of having any help of american enthusiasts!!!

So, if you have any advice, or better..if you have good spare parts ready to be shipped to
France to help the oldest french F24R please contact us!! (registered in 1948 in the
french register by "Louis BREGUET" himself!!)

j.courtot@free.fr
and
Airy-Hugues.Millet@renault.com

(payment cash by postorder in USD will be possible if required!)

Many thanks. for any kind of help!


(picture of the ARGUS will be available by e-mail)



Airy-H. MILLET

Airy-Hugues MILLET'

[hbuxl]

'--- In fairchildclub@y..., "MILLET Airy-Hugues" wrote:

> Hello!
>
> As I discovered this week-end this maillist, I will try to present

quickly myself and the

> plane I am leading the maintenance on, in a association

named "Nostalg'Air d'Eure et Loir"

> based in Chartres -France-.
>
> In fact I am following the maintenance of this plane since one

year, the plane was in

> airworthy conditions but needed some good hands of somebody who

knows a little bit in old

> mechanics and especially old aircraft. That way our second cylinder

which had only 42/80

> as compression leak ratio, did recover a good health during winter

2001 as the five other

> cylinders too! Nowadays every cylinders are 78/80 after 25 hours

flight last summer!

>
> But that was possible only because we had brand new spare parts in

stocks! (it is not the

> case for everything...see forward)
>
> It fly around 100kt cruise speed without wind (otherwise it will be

100mph!!) powered by a

> 200HP 6 inline-cylinders inverted Ranger, and a Sensenich wooden

fixed pitch propeller!

> (We may be interested by documentation about "aero-matic"(or a name

looking alike!) woody

> variable pitch prop!! and its availability)
>
> The landing gear is of the "Argus" type with reinforcement rod. But

we will be very

> interested in having some advice for wheel pants! to enhance "her"

image! of course!!

>
> The interior lining is of grey upholstery with light blue leather

seats (rear and front)

> and door lining too.
>
> As this plane was an ex-militatry one it also as the top windows

and stores..very

> interesting for sunbath, but quiet hot in best summer days!!....but

what a pleasure to fly

> with the arm on the open glass door!!
>
> BUT...
>
> Today we are encountering big problems with brakes, as it was

possible to clean and

> "overhaule" the right handside wheel and brake last year (between

two airshows or fly'in,

> without changing any parts), we didn't spent to much time on the

left handside, but last

> week-end after a short roll on our airfieldtrack the left side brake
> locked!!..definitely..it wouldn't unlock anymore!!..what happened??
> So, we decide to open! And we discovered that some spring-clips

were broken and that most

> of others were badly corroded (so, the pressure couldn't be

released by the springs

> forces!)... (I do not have any idea of the age of those parts, but

last major overhaule of

> the engine took place in 1963 -before I touch it-, and last plane

fabric cover is from the

> begining of the 80's -dacron-).
>
> After dicussing of such problems last year with other hydraulic-

tube type airplanes'owner

> we were in between to change everything for modern brake system, or

keeping the original

> way of thinking but with new part, ...but today we must replace at

least springs, and

> maybe both whole set of brakes accessories (expander-tube, pads and

springs of 9-1.1/2"

> size..ref G-2-122..if I am wrong please correct it!...to be sure of

our brakes!), as we

> are going in a hurry just two months before airshows season

begining!! We will be very

> kind of having any help of american enthusiasts!!!
>
> So, if you have any advice, or better..if you have good spare parts

ready to be shipped to

> France to help the oldest french F24R please contact us!!

(registered in 1948 in the

> french register by "Louis BREGUET" himself!!)
>
> j.courtot@f...
> and
> Airy-Hugues.Millet@r...
>
> (payment cash by postorder in USD will be possible if required!)
>
> Many thanks. for any kind of help!
>
>
> (picture of the ARGUS will be available by e-mail)
>
>
>
> Airy-H. MILLET
>
> Airy-Hugues MILLET

Welcome to the real Fairchild people, Airy-Hugues!

My name is Karl Saenger and I help to operate the only Swiss UC61K,
HB-ERO c/n 891.

Please get in touch, I might be able to give assistance. Is your
aircraft F-AZCI ?

Call me on the phone: 0041 55 246 35 41 or 0041 79 752 59 30 (mobile)

Thank you very much

Karl Saenger'