The Fairchild 22 was built Fairchild’s Kreider-Reisner division in Hagerstown, Maryland. K-R had been building Kinner-powered biplanes, but when the depression struck, these planes were too expensive and were not selling well. Fairchild responded with a simpler and inexpensive, open-cockpit, parasol-wing design: the Fairchild 22. Appearing in 1931 and initially selling for $2675, the 22 was a success.
The various models of Fairchild 22 are distinguished by the type of engine installed.
* C7, Rover 75 hp 4 cylinder inverted inline
* C7A, Cirrus Hi-Drive 95 hp 4 cylinder inverted inline
* C7B, Menasco C-4 Pirate 125 hp 4 cylinder inverted inline
* C7D, Wright Gipsy 90 hp 4 cylinder upright inline
* C7E, Warner Scarab 125 hp 7 cylinder radial
* C7F, Warner Super Scarab 145 hp 7 cylinder radial
* C7G, Warner Super Scarab 145 hp 7 cylinder radial
Early 22’s were built with inline engines, and the resulting aircraft had a small frontal profile and a dainty appearance, that many consider the quintessential Fairchild 22. There are very few of the inline-engined Fairchild 22’s still flying.
Starting in 1934 the Fairchild 22 was changed to use a Warner radial engine. This caused the fuselage to be contoured to match the larger frontal profile of the radial and as a result the aircraft appears to be much beefier. A cowling was also installed and fairings added around strut junctions to reduce drag.
Fairchild 22’s tended to break up in flight when performing demanding aerobatics. The airframe was apparently strengthened in the final C7G model version, which is reputed to have type certificate stress limits of 10 positive Gs.
The 22 was produced until 1935 when the market demanded higher performance and the comfort of enclosed cockpits.
Specs and details from Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Fairchild Aircraft Corporation, Hagerstown, Maryland
• President: S. M. Fairchild. Vice-president: W. M. Schwebel. Vice-president and General Manager: L. E. Reisner. Sales Manager: H. Eichhammer. Chief Engineers: G. W. Hardman and A. A. Gassner.
Two-place open high-wing monoplane. Wright Gipsy engine, 90 horsepower. ATC 503.
Span 32 feet 10 inches. Length overall 21 feet 8 inc):Jes. Height overall 7 feet 10 inches. Wing area 170 square feet. Power loading 17.2 pounds per horsepower. Wing loading 9.1 pounds per square foot.
Empty weight 993 pounds. Useful load 558 pounds. Payload 244 pound$. Gross weight 1550 pounds. Fuel capacity 21 gallons. Oil capacity 2.4 gallons.
Maximum speed 112 miles per hour. Cruising speed 95 miles per hour. Landing speed 48 miles per hour. Service ceiling 13,000 feet. Rate of climb 568 feet per minute. Cruising range 350 miles.
Fuselage: fabric covered; welded steel tubing, truss type; tandem seating arrangement, dual controls. Wing: two-spar type, braced internally with steel tie rods; fabric covered I-section spruce spars; spruce ribs, truss type; braced externally by sloping Vee streamline steel struts to the apices of the two steel tube pyramids on the sides of the fuselage, to which also are attached the legs of the undercarriage; narrow chord ailerons. Tail group: fabric covered; steel tubing; braced externally with streamline struts and wires; adjustable stabilizer. Fixed divided type landing gear with Goodrich 5.60 X 10 tires, Warner wheels and brakes, oil and spring shock absorbers; consists of two oleo legs, the top ends of which are anchored to the apices of two steel tube pyramids, one on each side of fuselage, with bottom ends hinged to bottom fuselage longerons by steel tube axles and radius rods. Plane and engine controls actuated over ball bearings.
Standard equipment includes Gardner wood propeller.
Instruments: compass, air speed indicator, tachometer, oil temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, altimeter. Also see data in August, 1933, AERO DIGEST.