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. Harold Skaarup web page last update: 2021-09-07 15:28:41Known Squadron Assignments:
Taken on Strength at Camp Borden on 2 April 1929. Sent to Ottawa Air Station on 18 June 1930. Back at Borden on 22 August 1930. Category A Crash at Peterborough, Ontario, on 24 October 1931 with two fatalities. Written off as produce on 8 February 1932.Known Squadron Assignments: 8
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 17 May 1931. Sent to Winnipeg Air Station on 11 June 1931 and from there to Buffalo Park on 13 June 1931. Used for photographic surveys from Fitzgerald Lake, Alberta. Returned to Winnipeg work shops on 1 October 1931. Stationed at Cormorant Lake on 20 June 1932. Sent to Buffalo Park on 15 July 1932 and returned to Cormorant Lake by 17 September 1932. At Lac du Bonnet by 15 July 1933. Detached, on skiis, to do winter surveys north of Lake Superior, Operation Kenora, in January 1935. Stationed at Winnipeg on 15 September 1935. Sent to Northwest Aero Marine in Winnipeg for overhaul on 24 February 1936. Became part of 8 General Purpose Squadron in Winnipeg on 3 June 1936. Sent to Lac du Bonnet on 4 June 1936 and returned to Winnipeg with 8 General Purpose Squadron on 1 October 1936.Known Squadron Assignments: 5, 8
Fuselage was made in USA. Company number reported as 767/4 by Griffin (767 is Fairchild US fuselage, 4 is Fairchild Aircraft Canada number for complete aircraft).Known Squadron Assignments: 1TC; 3TC
Fuselage made in USA (company number 766). Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 12 July 1930. Complete overhaul done at 1 Depot on 6 April 1931. Partial overhaul completed in Ottawa on 12 August 1933. Used at Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. Partial overhaul and major reconditioning completed at Fairchild Aircraft on 23 April 1938.Known Squadron Assignments: 1TC; 3TC
Fuselage made in USA, company number 765. Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 8 July 1930. Complete overhaul at depot on 4 June 1931. Category C damage on 13 October 1932, at Kingston, Ontario. Complete overhaul at depot on 4 May 1936. Complete overhaul at Fairchild on 22 June 1938. Assigned to 1 Training Command on 9 September 1939. Transferred to 3 Training Command on 23 September 1939. Operated from RCAF Station Trenton, June 1940. Converted to Instructional Airframe A 139 and Struck off Strength as Free Issue on 9 August 1941.Known Squadron Assignments: 4, 5, 6, 13
Fuselage made in USA, company number 764. Taken on Strength at 1 Depot on 9 July 1940 and based at RCAF Rockcliffe, Ont. Accompanied Vedette G-CYWS on long survey expedition over Canadian Arctic, July to August 1930. Returned to Rockcliffe on 1 October 1930. Partial overhaul completed at 1 Depot on 6 March 1931.Known Squadron Assignments: 7; 112; T&DE
Entirely made in USA. Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 30 May 1930. Assigned to Communications Flight at Ottawa on 9 January 1931. Complete overhaul at Winnipeg in 1932. Partial overhaul completed at Ottawa on 17 August 1933. Operated by No. 7 (GP) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ont., 1936 to 1939. Visited Montreal in May 1937. Complete overhaul and modifications done at 1 Depot Ottawa on 28 July 1938. Major reconditioning done at Fairchild in 1938 as well.Known Squadron Assignments:
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 30 May 1930 and assigned to 6 Photo Detachment. Category C crash on 6 June 1930. Overhaul and repairs completed at Fairchild and 1 Depot on 10 December 1930. Returned to Ottawa Air Station and was assigned back to 6 Photo Detachment on 23 April 1931. Used for photo surveys around Oskelaneo, Quebec in 1931. Returned to Ottawa on 15 October 1931. At 1 Depot on 17 November 1931 and sent to Fairchild on 14 January 1932. Back at 1 Depot on 16 March 1932 for overhaul - completed by 26 April 1933. Aircraft returned to Ottawa on 27 April 1933.Known Squadron Assignments: 5
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 20 May 1930 and assigned to 6 Photo Detachment. With 10 Photo Detachment on 18 May 1931. Sent to 1 Depot for overhaul on 19 October 1931. Returned to Ottawa Air Station on 16 March 1932. In storage at St. Hubert on 8 February 1933. Modifications completed at Fairchild on 11 April 1934 and aircraft sent to Ottawa by 28 April 1934. Sent to Dartmouth on 1 November 1934 and overhault completed on 30 April 1935. Assigned to Sydney NS detachment on 15 May 1935. Overhaul completed at Fairchild on 5 May 1936. Back at Dartmouth as part of 5 Fighter Bomber Squadron on 5 May 1936. Overhaul completed at 5 Squadron on 5 May 1937 and aircraft assigned to Operations Flight 5 Squadron. Overhaul completed by 5 Squadron on 20 June 1938. Returned to Fairchild for overhaul and reconditioning - completed by 18 May 1939. Aircraft returned to Dartmouth on 20 May 1939.Known Squadron Assignments: T&DE
Taken on Strength on 5 April 1930. Flew Ottawa to St. Hubert and return on 9 March 1937. Category B crash at St. Hubert on 3 May 1939. With 8 Photographic Detachment, early 1939. With the Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario in October 1939. Assigned to 4 Training Command at Regina on 18 December 1940. Sold to M&C Aviation in Prince Albert SK for $1000.00 when struck off on 16 October 1941. Became CF-BVQ. Sold to US Army Engineers by 22 February 1943, to be used by Bechtel-Price-Callahan on the Canol Project, potentially as s/n 42-88618.Known Squadron Assignments: 7; 13
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 31 March 1930. Complete overhauls done at 1 Depot Ottawa on 28 April 1931 and 30 March 1932. Operated from RCAF Station Trenton on floats, pre war. Operated by No. 7 (GP) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ont., 1936 to 1939. Overhauls completed at Fairchild on 3 August 1935, 9 October 1937, and 14 April 1939. Later with 13 (OT) Squadron in Western Air Command, RCAF Stations Sea Island or Patricia Bay, BC, from 5 July 1940. Sold to Canadian Airways Ltd. in Winnipeg when struck off on 16 October 1941 as CF-BVU. Converted to 71C in December 1942. Sold to Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd in Montreal on 23 December 1943. Caught fire and was destroyed in Fort Vermilion AB on 25 March 1944. Struck off the civil register on 31 March 1944.Known Squadron Assignments: 5
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 28 March 1930. Assigned to 10 Photo Detachment on 5 April 1930. Sent to 1 Depot on 4 December 1930 for fuselage overhaul. Returned to Ottawa Air Station on 2 April 1931 and assigned to 11 Photo Detachment on 10 April 1931. Returned to Ottawa Air Station on 2 November 1931. Assigned to 2 Maritime Detachment on 10 May 1932. Returned to Ottawa Air Station on 3 November 1932 and sent to 1 Depot on 25 November 1932 for overhaul. Completed on 6 May 1933 and returned to Ottawa Air Station. Assigned on same date to 10 Maritime Patrol Detachment in Gaspé. Returned to Ottawa Air Station on 18 October 1933. Sent to St. Hubert on 18 December 1933 and returned to Gaspé on 22 April 1934. Sent to Fairchild in Longueuil for overhaul on 31 October 1934. Completed on 8 May 1935 and assigned to the Gaspé Detachment of 5 Fighter Bomber Squadron. Sent to Dartmout on 3 November 1935 for partial overhaul at 5 Squadron. Completed by 1 May 1936 and returned to Gaspé. In Dartmouth by 17 October 1936 and sent to storage. Reduced to produce and instruments returned to 1 Depot in Ottawa on 10 June 1938.Known Squadron Assignments: 5; 8
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 14 March 1930. Partial reconditioning done at 5 Fighter Bomber Squadron in Dartmouth on 13 May 1937. Complete Reconditioning done at Fairchild on 23 April 1938. Partial reconditioning done at Dartmouth on 14 July 1939. Complete reconditioning done at De Havilland on 26 March 1940. Used by No. 5 Fighter Bomber Squadron at Dartmouth, NS, and by 8 General Purpose Squadron at Rockcliffe, Ontario, and / or Winnipeg, Manitoba. Used at 2 Wireless School in Calgary in 1940/1941. To 10 Repair Depot, Calgary, Alberta, 8 October 1941 for sale. Sold to Wings Ltd in Winnipeg for $3000.00 as CF-BVI. Sold to Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd in Montreal, 1942. Sold to Austin Airways Ltd in Toronto on 19 February 1944. Using wings and tail of CF-BVY (ex RCAF 627), was converted to Model 51/71 in 1948. Still with Austin Airways when it crashed during down wind take off at English Lake, Ontario on 17 July 1949.Known Squadron Assignments: 7; 4
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 25 March 1930. With 11 Photo Detachment on 5 April 1930. Transferred to 7 Photo Detachment on 24 June 1930. Back at Ottawa Air Station on 17 November 1930. To 1 Depot on 25 April 1931 and returned to Ottawa Air Station on 29 June 1931. Back at 1 Depot on 12 September 1933 and returned to Ottawa on 26 May 1934. With Treaty Flight on 24 April 1935, delivering treaty payments to reservations. Back at Ottawa on 9 July 1935. Visited 7 General Purpose Detachment base at Lake Osisko, Ontario in July 1936, on inspection visit from Rockcliffe. Sent to Fairchild Aircraft in Longueuil on 27 July 1936. Assigned to 4 Squadron Vancouver on 8 February 1937. Category C Crash in English Bay on 14 July 1939. In Stored Reserve on 11 August 1939. With Western Air Command on 1 April 1940. Visited RCAF Detachment Bella Bella on 17 July 1940. Sent to Vancouver Technical School on 13 March 1941 as Free Issue.Known Squadron Assignments: 1WS
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 5 April 1930. Served at 1 Wireless School in 1939. Free Issue to Aircraft Training School at Cartierville, Quebec on 2 June 1941. Struck off and sold to Gray Rocks Air Service in St. Jovite Quebec for $400.00 on 13 April 1942. Had 1,520 airframe time when sold. Unknown civil registration.Known Squadron Assignments: 8
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 12 April 1930. Used at Halcrow Lake. Complete overhaul completed in 1932. Partial overhaul done at Lac du Bonnet in 1934. Operated by 8 General Purpose Squadron, RCAF Stations Winnipeg, Manitoba or Rockcliffe, Ont., 1936 to 1939. Semi-overhaul completed at MacDonald Borthers in Winnipeg on 10 September 1938. Complete overhaul completed at Fairchild Aircraft Ltd on 19 August 1939. Sent to Air Armament School in Trenton on 9 September 1939. With 1 Training Command on 1 April 1940. Sent to 3 Training Command in 1941. Part of 4 Training Command in Regina on 18 December 1940. To 10 Repair Depot, Calgary, Alberta, 8 October 1941 for sale to Wings Ltd in Winnipeg for $2500.00.Known Squadron Assignments: 7; 8; T&DE; 112
Taken on Strength at 1 Depot in Ottawa on 30 April 1929. Used at Winnipeg, Manitoba. Overhaul completed in Winnipeg on 23 January 1934 and aircraft sent to Lac du Bonnet. Detached, on skiis, to do winter surveys north of Lake Superior, Operation Kenora, in January 1935. Overhaul completed at MacDonald Brothers in Winnipeg on 3 June 1936.Known Squadron Assignments: 5
Taken on Strength at Camp Borden on 2 April 1929 as 113. Sent to Ottawa Air Station on 18 June 1930. Back at Borden on 28 September 1930. Sent to Fairchild for overhaul on 14 July 1931. Returned to Borden on 31 December 1931. Sent to Ottawa Air Station for modifications. Completed on 24 May 1932 and assigned to 9 Maritime Patrol Detachment in Dartmouth. Returned to Ottawa on 6 November 1933 and sent to Fairchild on 10 November 1933 for modifications. Back at Ottawa on 13 May 1934 and assigned to 12 Maritime Patrol Detachment in Rimouski. With 5 Fighter Bomber Squadron in Dartmouth on 1 November 1934. Overhaul completed at 5 Squadron on 20 April 1935. Sent for complete reconditioning at Fairchild on 7 November 1935. Completed on 5 May 1936 and returned to 5 Squadron in Dartmouth. Part of the RCAF detachment in Shediac NB in 7 May 1936. Returned to Dartmouth with 5 Squadron in 2 November 1936. Reduced to produce and Struck off Strength at Dartmouth on 10 June 1938.Known Squadron Assignments: Ottawa
Taken on Strength on 25 June 1931. At Camp Borden in early 1930s. Operated from RCAF Station Ottawa in March 1937. Assigned to 4 Training Command in Regina on 18 December 1940. Sold to Canadian Airways Ltd in Winnipeg for $1000.00 on 9 October 1941.Known Squadron Assignments: 5; 111; 13
Operated by 5 Squadron, RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, in late 1930s. Operated by 111 Army Cooperation Squadron, RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC, 1940. Later with 13 Operational Training Squadron, RCAF Stations Sea Island or Patricia Bay, BC, 1940 to 1941. Sold to Canadian Airways Ltd in Winnipeg for $1000.00 on 16 October 1941.Known Squadron Assignments: T&DE
Taken on Strength at Rockcliffe on 27 August 1936. Sent back to Fairchild on 2 September 1936 and returned to Rockcliffe on 19 November 1936. Civil registration CF-AUT reserved in 1936, not clear if ever marked. At RCAF Station Rockcliffe with the Test and Development Flight by 6 January 1937. Returned to Fairchild on 30 May 1938 for overhaul. Back at Ottawa on 4 July 1938. Sent to Trenton on 14 July 1938 and assigned to Air Armament School on 19 July 1938. In storage at Borden on 3 February 1939. Sent to Fairchild on 19 August 1939 and returned to Ottawa on 13 September 1939. In storage at Borden on 2 October 1939. Part of 1 Training Command on 1 April 1940, but may have been an administrative change only. Was to be converted to ambulance, but not known if this was carried out. Reduced to produce and Struck off Strength on 11 April 1940.Known Squadron Assignments: T&DE; 7
Taken on Strength at Rockcliffe on 3 November 1936. Noted as Brought to Charge on 20 November 1936. Used by the Test Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario from 6 January 1937. Assigned to 7 General Purpose Detachment in western Canada in 1937. Category A crash near Grand Rapids, Manitoba on 9 August 1937. Pilot's body found a quarter of mile from crash site, 3 days after crash. Reason for this still unknown. Aircraft written off on 24 January 1938.Known Squadron Assignments:
Taken on Strength at Ottawa Air Station on 6 June 1931. Transferred to Winnipeg Air Station on 11 June 1931. Sent to Buffalo Park AB on 13 June 1931. Back at Winnipeg workshops on 1 October 1931. Returned to Buffalo Park on 29 July 1932. Category A crash on 31 July 1932 at Lindeseley (?) Bay NWT. Aircraft remains sent to Fitzgerald on 22 August 1932. Airframe reduced to spares and produce and salvaged components returned to Winnipeg. Aircraft finally written off on 21 September 1934.Known Squadron Assignments:
Taken on strength at Ottawa Air Station on 24 June 1929. Category A crash on 5 July 1929. Completely written off on 11 December 1929.