Re: AIRPLANES and STUFF!
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2003 8:31 pm
'Hello everyone! I received a call the other day that an old QB friend had
passed away and that his estate is being disposed of. There were always
great stories about this guys stuff but no one really seemed to have seen it
in at least ten years. He operated a flying service in Agawam, Massachusetts
on the Connecticut River across from Springfield, MA. He favored Fairchild
and Taylorcraft aircraft. Unfortunately, while he had no less than three
24W-165s and two Four place Taylorcraft, in addition to a couple of regular
two place Taylorcraft and, I believe, a Luscombe, he didn't do much to
preserve the aircraft when he got too old to run the business anymore. The
24W's were serial numbers 46148, 46197 and 46270. He flew them on floats and
took the aircraft apart apparently when he closed up the business.
I had the opportunity to go and see everything today. All three Fairchild
fuselages are in one tractor trailer container box. The wings were in another
but are now in the garage. One Warner is still on one of the airframes.
Another is hanging on a chain or cable or something in the basement of the
shop and the third is in pieces. There is a LOT or rust and virtually every
part or piece of everything needs total restoration. Some parts missing and
many are scattered throughout the building that housed his business in a
rotting old structure along the shore of the Connecticut River. Frankly
everything is a mess. Don't think that there is anything that could be flying
without the kind of restoration that we all read about where someone takes
the old stuff and uses much of it for patterns. This is not an easy
restoration opportunity.
I told the fellow's grandson that I would come home tonight and post this on
the discussion board because there is possibly somebody out there who might
want to tackle this. Believe me, if I had all the time in the world and a
lot more skill and money than I do there is no one who loves a Warner powered
24 any more than I do. But, this is way beyond me. Plus, I think they
really want to sell this fairly quickly and in large lots. Like all the
Fairchild stuff together and all the Taylorcraft stuff together, etc. But,
they'd have to explain it in their own words. I don't represent them nor did
I know the grandson until today. But don't expect that you could go there and
buy one or two pieces. They want a volume sale and aren't interested in $100
here and there for this mag or that flap, etc..
So, if there is anyone on the discussion board who wants to talk to the
grandson his name is Jim Martel and his home phone in Massachusetts is:
413-789-2554. Just tell him that you got his name and number from the
Fairchild Discussion Board. He seems to be a pretty nice guy. But I think
he's getting a lot of lookers and I couldn't tell whether he thinks this
stuff is valuable or if he's realistic and just wants to move it. I don't
know how many people could really handle what is there in terms of doing a
restoration. Just one last word of advice if you pursue this in any
fashion...don't have high expectations about the quality of this stuff (or
lack thereof!) and you won't be disappointed. Good luck!'
passed away and that his estate is being disposed of. There were always
great stories about this guys stuff but no one really seemed to have seen it
in at least ten years. He operated a flying service in Agawam, Massachusetts
on the Connecticut River across from Springfield, MA. He favored Fairchild
and Taylorcraft aircraft. Unfortunately, while he had no less than three
24W-165s and two Four place Taylorcraft, in addition to a couple of regular
two place Taylorcraft and, I believe, a Luscombe, he didn't do much to
preserve the aircraft when he got too old to run the business anymore. The
24W's were serial numbers 46148, 46197 and 46270. He flew them on floats and
took the aircraft apart apparently when he closed up the business.
I had the opportunity to go and see everything today. All three Fairchild
fuselages are in one tractor trailer container box. The wings were in another
but are now in the garage. One Warner is still on one of the airframes.
Another is hanging on a chain or cable or something in the basement of the
shop and the third is in pieces. There is a LOT or rust and virtually every
part or piece of everything needs total restoration. Some parts missing and
many are scattered throughout the building that housed his business in a
rotting old structure along the shore of the Connecticut River. Frankly
everything is a mess. Don't think that there is anything that could be flying
without the kind of restoration that we all read about where someone takes
the old stuff and uses much of it for patterns. This is not an easy
restoration opportunity.
I told the fellow's grandson that I would come home tonight and post this on
the discussion board because there is possibly somebody out there who might
want to tackle this. Believe me, if I had all the time in the world and a
lot more skill and money than I do there is no one who loves a Warner powered
24 any more than I do. But, this is way beyond me. Plus, I think they
really want to sell this fairly quickly and in large lots. Like all the
Fairchild stuff together and all the Taylorcraft stuff together, etc. But,
they'd have to explain it in their own words. I don't represent them nor did
I know the grandson until today. But don't expect that you could go there and
buy one or two pieces. They want a volume sale and aren't interested in $100
here and there for this mag or that flap, etc..
So, if there is anyone on the discussion board who wants to talk to the
grandson his name is Jim Martel and his home phone in Massachusetts is:
413-789-2554. Just tell him that you got his name and number from the
Fairchild Discussion Board. He seems to be a pretty nice guy. But I think
he's getting a lot of lookers and I couldn't tell whether he thinks this
stuff is valuable or if he's realistic and just wants to move it. I don't
know how many people could really handle what is there in terms of doing a
restoration. Just one last word of advice if you pursue this in any
fashion...don't have high expectations about the quality of this stuff (or
lack thereof!) and you won't be disappointed. Good luck!'