Canadian Warplanes 2: Fairchild 71, Fairchild 71B, and Fairchild 71C

Fairchild trainers, transports and utility aircraft

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581670)

Fairchild 71, RCAF (Serial No. 643), previously Reg. No. G-CYWH, 1940.

The Fairchild 71 was an American high-wing monoplane passenger and cargo aircraft built by Fairchild Aircraft and later built in Canada by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada) for both military and civilian use as a rugged bush plane.

The Fairchild Aircraft Company undertook a progressive development of the Fairchild FC-2W2 light transport. Its first improvement was the FC-2, whose several improvements included slightly swept-back wings; wingspan increased to 50 feet; engine power nearly doubled; and interior changes to improve passenger comfort.

The FC-2W was a further development, featuring: Camera bay for vertical aerial photography; Low-cut aft windows for oblique aerial photography. The FC-2 and FC-2W continued the use of fabric-covered welded steel tubing for fuselage and empennage construction, and strut-braced wooden-structure fabric-covered wings.The FC-2W, later known as the Model 71, was built in the United States between 1928 and 1930. In 1929 Fairchild formed a company in Canada (Fairchild Aircraft Limited) at Longueuil, Quebec in 1929 to support the Canadian operators of Fairchild aircraft. The Canadian company also set up a factory production line for the Model 71, developing a variant for the Canadian military. The Canadian-built aircraft differed from the US version in that all the passenger-comfort features were removed, and the craft were built specifically for aerial photography. (Wikipedia)

Fairchild 71 (11) RCAF Registration/Reg. Nos. G-CYWB (later 637), G-CYWC (later 638), G-CYWD (later 639), G-CYWE (later 640), G-CYWF (later 641), G-CYWG (later 642), G-CYWH (later 643), G-CYWX, G-CYXB (later 644), 113 (later 645), 114).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4295607)

Two bush pilots refueling their Northern Airways Fairchild FC-2W2 (later converted to a model 71C in 1949), Reg. No. CF-BXF.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5274702)

Fairchild 71, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYWX, G-CYXB (later 644), Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, June 1930.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Aviation Preservation Association)

Fairchild 71 (Serial No. G-CAVR).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3575555)

Fairchild 71 with RCAF personnel, Ottawa River, 1 Oct 1930.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580546)

Fairchild 71 with RCAF personnel, with Mr A.M. Narraway, general survey businessman, 1 Oct 1930.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 35790320)

Fairchild 71, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYWB), later RCAF (Serial No. 637), on skis, Elmsdale, Ontario, Feb 1935.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild 71, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYWB), later RCAF (Serial No. 637).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580961)

Fairchild 71, RCAF (Reg. No. 638). Preparation, for departure of Indian Treaty flight from RCAF Station Ottawa, Ontario, 16 June 1936. The unit s actually known as the Indian Treaty Flight which was based at Rockcliffe. It was formed in early 1935 with Fairchild 71's to provide transport to various government officials that travelled to remote reservations to pay out Treaty money as well as to check on conditions. Note black mourning armband probably for George V. (Chris Charland)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3242684)

Fairchild 71, RCAF, Reg. No. G-CYWH, later (Serial No. 643), Forest Fire Service airport, Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, 1933.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3575592)

Fairchild 71, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYWE, later (Serial No. 640).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3586708)

Fairchild 71, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYWF, (Serial No. 641).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390266)

Fairchild 71, RCAF, fitted with Perry Ski-wheel equipment, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 20 Jan 1932.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5275409)

Fairchild 71, N.A.M.E. aircraft at Coppermine, NWT (Nunavut), April 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390263)

Fairchild 71 aircraft, Moncton, N.B., December 1929.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580129)

Fairchild 71 used in a Trans-Canada flight showing S/L Godfrey inspecting the aircraft's Wasp motor, 18 August 1928.

(RCAF Photo)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Serial No. 633), previously Reg. No. G-CYVX, on floats.

Fairchild 71B (12), Registration. Nos. G-CYUV, G-CYUW (later 629), G-CYVE (later 630), G-CYVN (later 631), G-CYVO (later 632), G-CYVV, G-CYVX (later 633), G-CYVY (later 634), G-CYVZ (later 635), G-CYWA (later 636), 182 (later 646), 183 (later 647).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390275)

Arrival of Fairchild 71B, RCAF Reg No. G-CYVX (later Serial No. 633), flown by F/L F.J. Mawdesley on completion of 1200-mile flight along water and air routes in the Northwest Territories, 1 October 1930.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545925)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF, Sgt A.D. Pearce, 1940.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 204895)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYUW), later RCAF (Serial No. 629), ca 1937.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390294)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYUW), later RCAF (Serial No. 629), Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta, 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 35790242)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYUW), later RCAF (Serial No. 629), Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta, Aug 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 35790241)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYUW), later RCAF (Serial No. 629), Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta, Aug 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390240)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYUW), later RCAF (Serial No. 629), refueling at Fort Rae, Northwest Territories, August 1931.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582695)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Reg. No. G-CYVN), later RCAF (Serial NBo. 631), on floats, Bowland Lake, Ontario.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580964)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Serial No. 634), previously Reg. No. G-CYVY, on floats, No. 12 (Army Co-operation) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Winnipeg, Manitoba, 17 June 1936.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545918)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF (Serial No. 647), previously (Serial No. 183), No. 5 (GR) Squadron, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390276)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYVO, later (Serial No. 632), Rockcliffe, Ontario, 15 Sep 1930.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580622)

Fairchild 71B, RCAF F/O Bryans, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 10 June 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3390290)

Fairchild 71C aircraft, Reg. No. CF-AWU of Dominion Skyways Ltd., Haileybury, Ontario. Taken 1936-39. The man standing on the float is Mr. Gilbert Labine.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199491)

Fairchild 71C, Reg. No. CF-AWX of Wings Ltd, c1935-1937.

(Bzuk Photo)

(Author Photo)

Fairchild 71C (Serial No. 516), CF-AKT.  Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Fairchild 71C (1), (Serial G-CYVE (later 630).

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