AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 54

and Denest's son Mark, to help tear down the engine and rebuild it. Ever the optimist, Martin
said that although it was unfortunate to have to do the work on an engine with no time since a
major overhaul, "The education I received from Joe was incredible, and I cherish the time spent
on learning about this wonderful engine."
With the engine back together, and from the same airport where he first showed up decades
before as a young kid, Martin again hurtled the 24 down the runway and launched on a flawless test flight.

"Whenever you do a project like this,

it's a history lesson"

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

54 | AOPA PILOT April 2018

When we first see the 24, Martin has already pulled it out of the hangar and perched it on a pad
near the runway. Like a red-and-white beacon, it welcomes us to scenic New Garden Flying Field,
an airport built by the DuPont family for their own enjoyment, and later sold to the town. At most
airports the 24 would be an anomaly, but here it's not the only wood-and-fabric airplane. It's not
even the only Fairchild. There are a PT-19 and PT-26, and each hangs around in part because of
Denest's expert work.
The 24 gives a great first impression. It has that "it" factor of great ramp presence, in part
because of its size. With a roomy cabin; big, broad landing gear; and a long, fat wing, the 24 is
significantly bigger than many light airplanes of its day. The airplane is also undeniably beautiful
from almost every angle (avoid the head-on photograph). Sweeping lines grace the fuselage and
wings. The long, distinctive cowl is built to accommodate the unique Ranger engine, a Fairchild
design. And although the Fairchild can't really be
classified as having gull wings, the way in which
the wing joins the fuselage gives it that essence.
The real payoff is the cockpit. Necessary elements could have been left as utility pieces, but
the designers clearly took pride in offering a pleasant experience. The entry step, for example, is a
beautiful teardrop shape with a Pegasus in the step
plate. Getting in the back is made easier because
the front seats pivot forward, the rear legs folding
up as they do. Because he knew he'd be flying his
family often, Martin has made the panel a mix of
true-to-history and modern. A Garmin GNS 430
provides communication, navigation-and perhaps most important, traffic. The 24 might be a
beautiful airplane, but visibility out of the cockpit isn't its strength.
Martin also added a fuel totalizer to keep track of the wing's 60 gallons, and an engine analyzer to baby his investment. Much of the rest of the panel is like a great photograph, an invitation
to study its subtle details. The tachometer, for example, calls out hundreds of rpms like a clock
counts minutes. The magneto switch is a prominent red knob in the center of the panel. There's
a glove box to carry the pilot's flying gloves. Throttle is controlled with a fat knob that fills the
whole palm. Trim is controlled with an overhead crank, and takeoff is marked not by some rigid
line, but a kindly range. And true to Martin's requirements list, two sticks stand up tall in front
of the panel, each with an elongated bulb on the top. Then there are those windows, with true
automotive-style cranks that beg to be tested.
Despite the convenient lift-up seats and big step, getting in is a challenge. It's made easier
by abundant headroom. Grab the handle from the front-seat sidepost, put the outside leg on the
step, and swing the inside leg in and beyond the stick. Continue the hoist by ducking through the
door, and you've pretty much made it. The rudder pedals sit closer to the seats than seems reasonable, so even after successfully sitting down, your knees come up uncomfortably high. Long
torsos and shorter legs will have the best fit.
The airplane feels too genteel for checklists, and it's so simple that a flow suffices for starting. After a quick fuel drain from the cockpit, Martin turns on the left magneto (it's the only one
with an impulse coupling) and pulls the starter cable. The propeller swings through half a stroke
and stops. Another pull and the engine catches without drama. A small puff of white smoke drifts



AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 67
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 73
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 79
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 81
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - Cover4
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