Fairchild 150

Fairchild 150

Main menu

Larger image
Another view

Next RMP photo
RMP menu

06/30/2008. Fairchild’s Colonel Virginius E. Clark designed one of the first all-metal aircraft, that also became the first transport capable of exceeding 200 mph (322 kmh). Designated Model 150, the aircraft was flown by a crew of two and ten passengers could be seated in the cabin. Registered NX775N, the prototype was first flown at Farmingdale, New York, USA on May 22, 1932. Powered by a 700 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820 nine-cylinder radial engine, it was initially fitted with a fixed landing gear.

The manufacturing rights and the prototype were sold to General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation at Dundalk, Maryland in September 1932. The prototype was fitted with a retractable landing gear (pictured) and in January 1934 it was sold to Mitsui Bussan (Mitsui & Co) of Japan, who passed it on to NKKK (Japan Air Transport Company) registered as J-BAEP. Soon thereafter it was registered as M-701 in Manchuria (China) to the Japanese controlled paramilitary Manchurian Airlines. It crashed at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan on May 18, 1934.

Before General Aviation was dissolved in 1935, the company produced four additional aircraft designated GA-43:

NC82Y (c/n 2202), one of two bought by Swissair, delivered in March 1934 it was initially registered as CH-169, later as HB-LAM. It was sold in 1936 and ended up with the Republicans in Spain.

NC13901 (c/n 2203) was delivered to General Airlines in 1934.

NC13903 (c/n 2204) was delivered to Swissair in March 1935, registered as HB-ITU. This aircraft was powered by a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp nine-cylinder radial engine. It crashed into the 'Queen of the Swiss Alps', Mount Rigi, on April 30, 1936.

NX13904 (c/n 2205) was ordered by the Pan American Aviation Supply Corporation of New York, New York. This aircraft was powered by a 660 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet T1 nine-cylinder radial engine and fitted with twin floats, and a larger fin with an additional ventral fin. Named Bolivar it was used along the Rio Magdalena in Colombia.