| Model 46 | |
|---|---|
| Fairchild F-46 | |
| Role | Light aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Aircraft, Duramold Aircraft Corporation, Clark Corporation, Fairchild Airplane Investments Corporation and Molded Aircraft Corporation[1] |
| Designer | Virginius E. Clark |
| First flight | 12 May 1937 |
| Number built | 1 |
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.
The process was developed jointly by the Haskelite Manufacturing Corporation as Plymold and the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation as Duramold.[2] 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.[3]
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.[citation needed]
In 1947 the Model 46 prototype was re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney R-985 and flown for ten years.[4]
Data from FAA TCDS[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics
