Fairchild XNQ

XNQ/T-31

Fairchild XNQ-1 tested as the T-31
Role	Primary trainer
Manufacturer	Fairchild
First flight	7 October 1946
Number built	2

Fairchild XNQ at Airventure 2009, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The Fairchild XNQ (T-31) (Model M-92) was an American trainer designed as a standard primary trainer for the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s.

Design and development

Designed by Fairchild Aircraft as a replacement for current primary trainers, the XNQ-1 was the fastest primary trainer to date. The Model M-92 featured a controllable-pitch propeller, flaps, electronically operated retractable landing gear and all-metal skin with fabric-covered rudder, ailerons and elevators. Its unobstructed bubble canopy provided instructors and students seated in tandem with good visibility, and its cockpit instruments were arranged to match those found in contemporary jet fighters. To help students recognize controls, the landing gear handle was in the shape of a small landing gear wheel, and the flap handle was shaped like the airfoil of a flap.

Operational history

The XNQ-1 basic/advanced trainer was developed for the U.S. Navy and was first flown by Richard Henson on 7 October 1946. Two prototypes were flown as XNQ-1 (BuNo. 75725 & 75726). Delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1947 for trials, they were rejected due to problems with exhaust fumes leaking into the cockpit. The first prototype was subsequently to receive a number of engine changes, first powered with a 320 hp Lycoming R-680-13, then finally with a horizontally opposed 350 hp Lycoming GSO-580. The aircraft was destroyed in a crash in 1950.

The second aircraft (BuNo. 75726), with a larger stabilizer, was evaluated by the USAF in 1949 as a replacement for the AT-6, with the USAF selecting it on 24 March 1949 as a primary trainer. Designed to be acrobatic to teach pilots maneuvers, such as stalls, spins and rolls, Fairchild received a contract for 100 model 129s under the USAF designation T-31. However, the order was cancelled later in 1949, in favor of the Beech T-34 Mentor.

Fairchild dropped plans to develop the design as the company concentrated on other production contracts, including the C-119 Flying Boxcar.

Survivors

The second aircraft, privately owned, was still on the civil register on 15 January 2006^[1] in airworthy condition.

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: two, pilot and instructor
Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Empty weight: 1,338 kg (2,974 lb)
Gross weight: 1,754 kg (3,898 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming R-680-13 radial, 238 kW (320 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 282 km/h (175 mph)
Range: 1,537 km (955 miles)
Service ceiling: 4,880 m (16,000 ft)

References

Notes

↑ "Antique Attic". Atlantic Flyer, June 2006.

Bibliography

Green, William and Gerald Pollinger. The Aircraft of the World. London: Macdonald, 1955.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild XNQ.

Aircraft produced by Fairchild Aircraft, subsidiaries, and successor companies

Manufacturer
designations

21
22
24
41
42
45
46
51
61
62
71
72
77
78/78
79
80
81
82
84
91
100
105
107
110
135
140
150
164
203
205
224
473
484
538

By role

Experimental	VZ-5 XC-120 XBQ-3 XH-26
Passenger transports	FC-1 FC-2 21 22 24 41 42 45 46 51 71 72 81 82 91 92 100 135 140 150 228 PC-6
Military trainers	AT-21 PT-19 PT-23 PT-26 XNQ
Military transports	AU-23 C-26 C-82 C-119 C-123

Fairchild (Canada)

Fairchild-Dornier

Fairchild Hiller

Fairchild Republic

A-10
T-46

Fairchild Swearingen

American Helicopter

XA-5
XA-6
XA-8

See also: Ranger/Fairchild aeroengines

United States trainer aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Advanced Trainer
(1925-1948)

Basic Combat
(1936-1940)

Basic Trainer
(1930-1948)

Primary Trainer
(1924-1948)

Main sequence
(1948-present)

1948 redesignations	T-6 T-7 T-11 T-13A T-13B/D T-17 T-19
New designations	T-28 T-29 T-30 T-31 T-32 T-33 T-34 T-35 T-36 T-37 T-38 T-39 T-40 T-41 T-42 T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 T-48 (I) T-48 (II) CT-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53

Alternate sequences

1962 redesignations	T-1 T-2
1990-1996 sequence	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6

¹ Not assigned

USN/USMC trainer aircraft designations 1922-1948
Boeing	NB N2B
Curtiss	NC¹ N2C
Piper	NE
Huff-Daland	HN
Howard	NH
North American	NJ
Keystone	NK
Langley	NL
Martin	NM¹ N2M
Naval Aircraft Factory	NN¹ N2N N3N N4N¹ XN5N
Spartan	NP
Fairchild	NQ
Ryan	NR
Stearman	NS N2S
New Standard	NT
Timm	NT² N2T
Consolidated	NY N2Y N3Y N4Y
¹ Not assigned ² Assigned to a different manufacturer's type

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