Fairchild Model 91 "Baby Clipper"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_91

The Fairchild 91, (a.k.a. A-942), was a single-engine eight-passenger flying
boat airliner developed in the United States in the mid-1930s.

Fairchild designed the aircraft in response to a Pan American Airways request
for a small flying boat to operate on their river routes along the Amazon and
Yangtze. The result was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with its
radial engine mounted above the wing in a streamlined nacelle. Before
construction of the prototype was complete, however, Pan American no longer
required the aircraft to operate in China, and Fairchild modified the design to
optimise it for the tropical conditions of Brazil.

Role
Flying boat airliner

Manufacturer
Fairchild

Designer
Alfred Gassner

First flight
5 April 1935

Primary user
Pan Am

Number built
4

After the first two aircraft were delivered, Pan American cancelled the
remaining four aircraft on its order, discovering that the two aircraft they had
already purchased were capable of handling their entire Amazon River demand; the
Model 91 had become a victim of its own success. Fairchild completed one more
airframe under the designation A-942-A. The sole A-942-B was specially built for
the American Museum of Natural History, to be used by naturalist Richard
Archbold on his second expedition to New Guinea in 1936-37. The prototype was
sold to the Spanish Republican Air Force, but was captured by the Spanish
Nationalists and was used by them until 1938. One of the privately owned A-942s
served with the RAF in Egypt for a time.

Note: Some sources state that seven aircraft were built, but this is incorrect,
probably brought about by confusion due to the frequent changes in engine
installations.

Variants

Fairchild 91 Baby Clipper
The initial version built to a Pan American specification for use on river-based
sectors, initially powered by a 750hp Pratt & Whitney S2EG Hornet. Three
built,[NC14743 (prototype with retractable wing floats, and Zap flaps), NC14744
= PP-PAP, NC15952 = PP-PAT].

Fairchild A-942-A
Alternative designation for the Fairchild 91

Fairchild 91B Jungle Clipper
Specially equipped for NYC Museum of Natural History, initially powered by a
700hp Wright F-52 Cyclone. One built, NR777.

Fairchild A-942-B
Alternative designation for the Fairchild 91B.

Fairchild XSOK-1
Proposed U.S. Navy scout variant; cancelled before any aircraft were built.

Specifications (A-942-A)

General characteristics
Crew: two pilots
Capacity: eight passengers
Length: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
Wingspan: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 483 ft2 (44.9 m2)
Empty weight: 6,596 lb (2,992 kg)
Gross weight: 10,500 lb (4,763 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690, 800 hp (600 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 167 mph (269 km/h)
Range: 665 miles (1,070 km)
Service ceiling: 15,600 ft (4,755 m)
Rate of climb: 840 ft/min (4.3 m/s)





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