The One That Got Away

A Fairchild 24 flies off after its restoration—only to return 19 years later.

Leonardo Correa Luna

Monday, August 21, 2023 at 03:03 PM ET

Verified

[Credit: Leonardo Correa Luna]

Key Takeaways:

The author, an airplane enthusiast, initially bought a Cessna 170B but harbored a strong admiration for the unique aesthetics and design of the Fairchild 24, especially the Ranger-engined variant.
The Fairchild 24 is characterized by its distinctive wide landing gear providing exceptionally smooth landings, mixed-material construction, and the rare, automatically variable-pitch Aeromatic propeller.
The article details Lon Dietz's journey with his beautifully restored yellow-and-green Fairchild 24, an aircraft he meticulously rebuilt, sold, and later serendipitously reacquired.
The author's test flight in Dietz's Fairchild 24 confirmed its pleasant handling, stable flight characteristics, and cushioned landings, solidifying its place as a top choice for their potential second aircraft.

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Eight years ago I bought my first airplane, a beautiful classic 1952 Cessna 170B. That airplane had to have these features: a tailwheel, four seats, four hours of endurance, easy to maintain—and needed to be classic and beautiful. My budget in 2014 was $50,000. The final list included the Cessna 170E and the Stinson 108, and another model that caught my eye—the far less common Fairchild 24.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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