Vintage 1930s Aircraft Restored To Original Condition ... Ready To Fly

By Maria Morrison

As one walks along by the control tower at Wittman Regional Airport, they would find no shortage of interesting, eye-catching airplanes. One in particular, though, would stand out. A Fairchild 24 sits proudly below the OSH tower.

One common question among the public is; "What are the exact colors of this plane?", according to John Hopkins, EAA's Director of Aircraft Maintenance. The bright yellow and green paint is one of the first things people see as they approach the sweepstakes booth. However, there is more to this aircraft than a pretty paint scheme.

This is a Fairchild 24H "Deluxe", produced in 1937 as an option for those who wanted more than the "standard" version of the aircraft. The Deluxe Fairchild was the first of its kind to provide unheard of luxuries such as roll-down windows, plush upholstery, and cabin heating. This helped break the standard of open cockpit airplanes with little comfort. In fact, the original brochure was happy to boast the fact that "special clothing is not required." For the aviator, the Deluxe offers performance advantages such as improved instrumentation, wing flaps, and, for this particular airplane, a Ranger 175 horsepower six-cylinder inverted engine.

When this airplane was donated to the EAA at least 10 years ago, the only hours on the engine were what it took to get the aircraft up to Oshkosh. Since then, the Fairchild was "pickled" to preserve it. Pickling includes removing spark plugs, the battery, and the ELT, as well as generously spraying the engine with a mixture of oil and preservatives. The 24 stayed in that preserved condition while it was on display for in Pioneer Field for years, until EAA decided that it was the perfect candidate for their annual sweepstakes. The Fairchild's owner was happy to see that the aircraft would be put to good use. It didn't take long to restore the aircraft to it's original 1930's condition and get it ready to fly away with the winner.

The idea of hosting a sweepstakes was originated in 1963 by EAA chapter 22 in Rockford, Illinois. In 1970, the sweepstakes moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Anyone is welcome to enter, with a suggested donation, and the money goes to various EAA foundations such as the Young Eagles. On September 29, the drawing will be held, with the inclusion of any tickets sent out in the EAA sport aviation magazine.

On the 51st anniversary of the Oshkosh fly-in and airshow, the EAA sweepstakes prize is unbeatable. With low time and a fresh restoration, this Fairchild 24H is Deluxe inside and out.

FMI: www.eaa.org/sweepstakes