First flight May 12, 1937 | Designer Virginius E. Clark | |
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Manufacturers Duramold Aircraft Corporation, Fairchild Aircraft | ||
The Fairchild F-46, also known as the Duramold Aircraft Corporation F-46 A, is a light aircraft that was built using the Duramold process, later used on the Spruce Goose.
Contents
Development
The F-46 was the first successful aircraft to use molded plywood. The process was developed jointly by the Haskelite Manufacturing Corporation as Plymold and the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation as Duramold. The plywood employed heat, pressure, plastics and wood to make complex structures in less time than could be done with aluminum construction. The Haskelite Corporation used this plywood for railway cars, buses, automobiles, and boats. Fairchild created its own use of the technology for making airplane structures.
Design
The Model 46 is a low-wing, cabin aircraft, with conventional landing gear and structures made using Duramold processes. The fuselage is constructed of two halves bonded together. The wings use wooden spars with plywood covering. The control surfaces use aluminum frames with aircraft fabric covering. A 50 U.S. gallons (190 L; 42 imp gal) fuel tank was mounted in each wing.
Operational history
In 1947 the Model 46 prototype was re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-985 and flown for ten years.
Specifications (Fairchild 46)
Data from FAA TCDS
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics