Fairchild KR-34

Fairchild KR-34
Kreider-Reisner C-4C Challenger
Role	Utility biplane
Manufacturer	Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Fairchild Aircraft
First flight	1928

The Kreider-Reisner Challenger (later the Fairchild KR series) was an American utility biplane aircraft designed and produced by the Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company, which was later taken over by the Fairchild Aircraft Company.

Development

The C-2 Challenger was the first commercial aircraft developed by the Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company. The Challenger was a conventional mixed-construction biplane with a fixed tailskid landing gear. It had two open tandem cockpits for a pilot (at the rear), and passenger (forward) and was powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 inline engine. A number of variants were built designated the C-3 Challenger and C-4 Challenger which had detailed differences and different engines fitted. Late in 1928 the company introduced a new and slightly smaller design designated the C-6 Challenger.

In 1929 the company was bought by the Fairchild Aircraft Company who continued the production of the C-4 as the Fairchild KR-34 and the C-6 as the Fairchild KR-21. Although not built by Fairchild the C-2 was re-designated the Fairchild KR-31.

To act as an engine test-bed a KR-21 was modified to use a Fairchild 3-690 engine (later named Ranger) and changes were made to the wing and landing-gear geometry. The modified aircraft was known as the Fairchild KR-125. In 1931 a similar aircraft without the geometry changes but with a Ranger engine was sold under the designation KR-135.

Variants

C-2 Challenger

Initial production version, later KR-31.

C-3 Challenger

C-2 with detail and engine changes.

C-4 Challenger

C-2 with detail and engine changes, later KR-34

C-6 Challenger

Smaller version of C-2, later KR-21.

KR-21

Re-designation of the C-6.

KR-31

Re-designation of the C-2.

KR-34

Redesignation of the C-4

KR-34CA

1930 attack aircraft version of the C-4C

KR-35

Re-designation of the C-4.

KR-125

One KR-21 modified to an engine test bed for the Fairchild 6-390.

KR-135

Production version of KR-21 with in-line engine.

Specifications (KR-34)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1674

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)
• Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
• Wing area: 285 ft² (26.48 m²)
• Empty weight: 1524 lb (691 kg)
• Gross weight: 2368 lb (1074 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6 Whirlwind Five 5-cylinder radial piston engine, 165 hp (123 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h)
• Range: 510 miles (821 km)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4265 m)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1674

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