Re: Fairchild M-62 prototype

[Steve Link]

'I picked an ad up off e-bay and posted it to the pictures in the group. What I thought was cool is the razorback fairing behind the 2nd seat. Makes it almost look like a Miles design or some French/Italian sport plane!  Anyone have any other pix of the M-62 in this configuration?'

[Steve Link]

'The second pic has a small headrest behind the aft cockpit. This was the second modification to the prototype after removing the canopy for the fly-off I think.  From: Steve Link [mailto:steven_link@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 6:12 AM
To: fairchildclub
Subject: Fairchild M-62 prototype  I picked an ad up off e-bay and posted it to the pictures in the group. What I thought was cool is the razorback fairing behind the 2nd seat. Makes it almost look like a Miles design or some French/Italian sport plane!  Anyone have any other pix of the M-62 in this configuration?'

[Steve Link]

' I just posted another pic. I think the #1  "razorback" was the first version or mockup, #2 had the wheel pants and different canopy, and #3 was modified to open cockpits with a small headrest behind the second pit for the competition. The M-62 first flew on May 15, 1939, and won a fly-off competition later that year against 17 other designs for the new Army training airplane. Fairchild was awarded its first Army PT contract for an initial order on 22 September 1939. Are more pix of the razorback version out there?
Take a look at the first pic in this PDF....
http://www.aeroresourcesinc.com/uploads/197104-1938-44%20Fairchild%20M-62's.pdf

 
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 06:18:52 -0500
Subject: [fairchildclub] RE: Fairchild M-62 prototype

  The second pic has a small headrest behind the aft cockpit. This was the second modification to the prototype after removing the canopy for the fly-off I think.
 From: Steve Link [mailto:steven_link@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 6:12 AM
To: fairchildclub
Subject: Fairchild M-62 prototype I picked an ad up off e-bay and posted it to the pictures in the group. What I thought was cool is the razorback fairing behind the 2nd seat. Makes it almost look like a Miles design or some French/Italian sport plane!  Anyone have any other pix of the M-62 in this configuration?
'

[robert Etter]

'I know that I have one, some where.  I think it had the "X" registration.  It was sitting in front of a hanger and photo from the 10:30 position.Bob

On Tuesday, April 12, 2016 4:12 AM, "Steve Link steven_link@msn.com [fairchildclub]" wrote:


  I picked an ad up off e-bay and posted it to the pictures in the group. What I thought was cool is the razorback fairing behind the 2nd seat. Makes it almost look like a Miles design or some French/Italian sport plane!  Anyone have any other pix of the M-62 in this configuration? #ygrps-yiv-1200972711 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 -- #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ygrp-mkp { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;} #ygrps-yiv-1200972711 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ygrp-mkp hr { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;} #ygrps-yiv-1200972711 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409hd { color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-1200972711 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ads { margin-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-1200972711 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409 #ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-1200972711yiv9280585409ad { 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'

[tonyb42uk]

'Steve,I am sure you are right in that there are three (at least) different stages/configurations in the development of the prototype.  The timescale for each of these metamorphoses remains uncertain but the order you suggest is probably correct.
It has been suggested to me before that the the razorback version was only a mock-up - and yet we can see the engine is running, so this is more than the usual mock-up.  There is a good side view probably taken at the same time as your pic in Kent Mitchell's "Fairchild Aircraft 1926-1987".  I have never seen a reliably dated photograph of this variant, or one of it in the air.
H.L. Puckett's "PT-19 - Cradle of Heroes" also has three photographs of what is described as the mock-up under construction.  This appears very similar to the aircraft seen outside the hangar which suggests this is likely to be #1 configuration.  
As no photographs of the "razorback" version in the air have so far come to light it seems likely that NX18689 was first flown in the coupe configuration.
I would like to suggest an earlier first flight date than May 15th.  Richard A Henson was hired to test fly most of Fairchild products at this time and two of his logbooks survive in the NASM Archive, along with some other Fairchild documents.  They must be faded as they do not copy well.  There are two entries for NX18689 dated 5-15-39.  The first appears as part of his six month summary - there is another such summary of instructional flights in November 1939.  Someone has added a note in the margin which reads "5-15-39 First Flight M62*"  The actual entry on that page records 25 hours 40 minutes flight time, which leads me to conclude this entry is actually a summary of the hours flown on test prior to May 15th.
The next page begins with an entry which reads "5-15-39; NX18689; Fairchild M62; Ranger; 2S; 3hrs 25 min; XC to Langley Field & Return".  I think it is safe to assume this is the correct entry for that day - not the summary on the previous page.  A cross-country on the same day as the first flight seems rather unlikely.
The FAA file on NX18689 provides an interesting insight but could have been a lot more helpful.  Various documents state a build date of March 1939 for NX18689.  There is an Aircraft Inspection Report and an Application for Registration dated 16 March, 1939.  My exposure to FAA records is fairly limited but I have gained the impression that, typically, the above application dates are usually very close to the first flight date of a particular aircraft.  The aircraft is described in these March 1939 documents as a "2-PCLM"; i.e., 2 seat -  cabin - land plane - monoplane. The engine at that stage was a 165hp 6-410B2-A.  
Later certificates describe NX18689 as "2-POLM"; i.e., open cockpit, but there are no documents to indicate when this modication took place.
The first reliably dated photographs I have seen were taken at Wright Field on July 7, 1939 and show NX18689 with a coupe canopy, and a spatted and trousered u/c.  The upper longerons appear to have been shortened giving an upward kink to the rear fuselage - presumably to raise the tailplane.
Further trials took place in August at the Air Corps Training Detachment of the Chicago School of Aeronautics, Curtiss-Reynolds Field, Glenview.  NX16868 was in competition with a PT-16 and a WACO UPF-7 and was also compared with standard trainer at the school, the PT-13. A number of cadets from Course 40A received tuition on the three experimental types.  It was following these trials and a confirmation that Fairchild could produce the number required in the time specified that the order for 270 was placed in September 1939.
A distant photograph exists of NX18689 on the taxiway at Glenview.  The coupe canopy has been replaced by two windshields, the turn-over pylon has a fairing around it, there is a small headrest behind the rear cockpit and the tailplane is braced.
NX18689 continued to be used for tests and demonstrations for some months.  These included a trip to Canada in December 1939.  Henson flew it for it the last time in February 1940, by which time production examples were available.  
Finally an Aircraft Status Change document in the FAA files shows Fairchild 18689 cancelled 10.1.40 as "Airworthiness Certificate" expired.
I would welcome any evidence to add to the above.
Best wishes, Tony Broadhurst

'

[Bill Johnson]

'







Great report, Tony.
Thanks!
Bill Johnson
 


From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com]

Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 5:26 PM
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [fairchildclub] RE: Fairchild M-62 prototype


 
 




Steve,


I am sure you are right in that there are three (at least) different stages/configurations in the development of the prototype.  The timescale for each of these metamorphoses remains uncertain but the order you suggest is probably correct.


 


It has been suggested to me before that the the razorback version was only a mock-up - and yet we can see the engine is running, so this is more than the usual mock-up.  There is a good side view probably taken at the same time as your
pic in Kent Mitchell's "Fairchild Aircraft 1926-1987".  I have never seen a reliably dated photograph of this variant, or one of it in the air.


 


H.L. Puckett's "PT-19 - Cradle of Heroes" also has three photographs of what is described as the mock-up under construction.  This appears very similar to the aircraft seen outside the hangar which suggests this is likely to be #1 configuration.
 


 


As no photographs of the "razorback" version in the air have so far come to light it seems likely that NX18689 was first flown in the coupe configuration.


 


I would like to suggest an earlier first flight date than May 15th.  Richard A Henson was hired to test fly most of Fairchild products at this time and two of his logbooks survive in the NASM Archive, along with some other Fairchild documents.
 They must be faded as they do not copy well.  There are two entries for NX18689 dated 5-15-39.  The first appears as part of his six month summary - there is another such summary of instructional flights in November 1939.  Someone has added a note in the
margin which reads "5-15-39 First Flight M62*"  The actual entry on that page records 25 hours 40 minutes flight time, which leads me to conclude this entry is actually a summary of the hours flown on test prior to May 15th.


 


The next page begins with an entry which reads "5-15-39; NX18689; Fairchild M62; Ranger; 2S; 3hrs 25 min; XC to Langley Field & Return".  I think it is safe to assume this is the correct entry for that day - not the summary on the previous
page.  A cross-country on the same day as the first flight seems rather unlikely.


 


The FAA file on NX18689 provides an interesting insight but could have been a lot more helpful.  Various documents state a build date of March 1939 for NX18689.  There is an Aircraft Inspection Report and an Application for Registration
dated 16 March, 1939.  My exposure to FAA records is fairly limited but I have gained the impression that, typically, the above application dates are usually very close to the first flight date of a particular aircraft.  The aircraft is described in these
March 1939 documents as a "2-PCLM"; i.e., 2 seat -  cabin - land plane - monoplane. The engine at that stage was a 165hp 6-410B2-A.  


 


Later certificates describe NX18689 as "2-POLM"; i.e., open cockpit, but there are no documents to indicate when this modication took place.


 


The first reliably dated photographs I have seen were taken at Wright Field on July 7, 1939 and show NX18689 with a coupe canopy, and a spatted and trousered u/c.  The upper longerons appear to have been shortened giving an upward kink
to the rear fuselage - presumably to raise the tailplane.


 


Further trials took place in August at the Air Corps Training Detachment of the Chicago School of Aeronautics, Curtiss-Reynolds Field, Glenview.  NX16868 was in competition with a PT-16 and a WACO UPF-7 and was also compared with standard
trainer at the school, the PT-13. A number of cadets from Course 40A received tuition on the three experimental types.  It was following these trials and a confirmation that Fairchild could produce the number required in the time specified that the order for
270 was placed in September 1939.


 


A distant photograph exists of NX18689 on the taxiway at Glenview.  The coupe canopy has been replaced by two windshields, the turn-over pylon has a fairing around it, there is a small headrest behind the rear cockpit and the tailplane
is braced.


 


NX18689 continued to be used for tests and demonstrations for some months.  These included a trip to Canada in December 1939.  Henson flew it for it the last time in February 1940, by which time production examples were available.  


 


Finally an Aircraft Status Change document in the FAA files shows Fairchild 18689 cancelled 10.1.40 as "Airworthiness Certificate" expired.


 


I would welcome any evidence to add to the above.


 


Best wishes, Tony Broadhurst


 


 







'

[Steve Link]

' Tony, once again, thanks. You have covered it so well. These was such a lack of photo documentation during those halcyon days before the US entered the war. I was really hoping there were more shots of the "razorback"! Rather attractive! I just sent you the PDF files I received on the prototype from the FAA....
Tailwinds, Steve.
 
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:26:14 -0700
Subject: RE: [fairchildclub] RE: Fairchild M-62 prototype

  Steve,I am sure you are right in that there are three (at least) different stages/configurations in the development of the prototype.  The timescale for each of these metamorphoses remains uncertain but the order you suggest is probably correct.
It has been suggested to me before that the the razorback version was only a mock-up - and yet we can see the engine is running, so this is more than the usual mock-up.  There is a good side view probably taken at the same time as your pic in Kent Mitchell's "Fairchild Aircraft 1926-1987".  I have never seen a reliably dated photograph of this variant, or one of it in the air.
H.L. Puckett's "PT-19 - Cradle of Heroes" also has three photographs of what is described as the mock-up under construction.  This appears very similar to the aircraft seen outside the hangar which suggests this is likely to be #1 configuration.  
As no photographs of the "razorback" version in the air have so far come to light it seems likely that NX18689 was first flown in the coupe configuration.
I would like to suggest an earlier first flight date than May 15th.  Richard A Henson was hired to test fly most of Fairchild products at this time and two of his logbooks survive in the NASM Archive, along with some other Fairchild documents.  They must be faded as they do not copy well.  There are two entries for NX18689 dated 5-15-39.  The first appears as part of his six month summary - there is another such summary of instructional flights in November 1939.  Someone has added a note in the margin which reads "5-15-39 First Flight M62*"  The actual entry on that page records 25 hours 40 minutes flight time, which leads me to conclude this entry is actually a summary of the hours flown on test prior to May 15th.
The next page begins with an entry which reads "5-15-39; NX18689; Fairchild M62; Ranger; 2S; 3hrs 25 min; XC to Langley Field & Return".  I think it is safe to assume this is the correct entry for that day - not the summary on the previous page.  A cross-country on the same day as the first flight seems rather unlikely.
The FAA file on NX18689 provides an interesting insight but could have been a lot more helpful.  Various documents state a build date of March 1939 for NX18689.  There is an Aircraft Inspection Report and an Application for Registration dated 16 March, 1939.  My exposure to FAA records is fairly limited but I have gained the impression that, typically, the above application dates are usually very close to the first flight date of a particular aircraft.  The aircraft is described in these March 1939 documents as a "2-PCLM"; i.e., 2 seat -  cabin - land plane - monoplane. The engine at that stage was a 165hp 6-410B2-A.  
Later certificates describe NX18689 as "2-POLM"; i.e., open cockpit, but there are no documents to indicate when this modication took place.
The first reliably dated photographs I have seen were taken at Wright Field on July 7, 1939 and show NX18689 with a coupe canopy, and a spatted and trousered u/c.  The upper longerons appear to have been shortened giving an upward kink to the rear fuselage - presumably to raise the tailplane.
Further trials took place in August at the Air Corps Training Detachment of the Chicago School of Aeronautics, Curtiss-Reynolds Field, Glenview.  NX16868 was in competition with a PT-16 and a WACO UPF-7 and was also compared with standard trainer at the school, the PT-13. A number of cadets from Course 40A received tuition on the three experimental types.  It was following these trials and a confirmation that Fairchild could produce the number required in the time specified that the order for 270 was placed in September 1939.
A distant photograph exists of NX18689 on the taxiway at Glenview.  The coupe canopy has been replaced by two windshields, the turn-over pylon has a fairing around it, there is a small headrest behind the rear cockpit and the tailplane is braced.
NX18689 continued to be used for tests and demonstrations for some months.  These included a trip to Canada in December 1939.  Henson flew it for it the last time in February 1940, by which time production examples were available.  
Finally an Aircraft Status Change document in the FAA files shows Fairchild 18689 cancelled 10.1.40 as "Airworthiness Certificate" expired.
I would welcome any evidence to add to the above.
Best wishes, Tony Broadhurst


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