| G-CYXO (later 616) was one of six FC-2W's in service
with the RCAF from 21 May, 1928 to 11 June,
1937 and was a more powerful version of the FC-2L
which also served during the same period. The latter version had
a Armstrong Siddeley Lynx VIB powerplant while the "W"
boasted the more powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp A.
Many of the RCAF's FC-2s and FC-2Ls were produced
by Canadian Vickers Ltd under licence from Fairchild Airplane Corp
in the United States, however Fairchild withdrew its licence before
Canadian Vickers started production of the FC
-2Ws, which were therefore produced wholly by Fairchild.
During this period many of the surviving RCAF FC-2s
and FC-2Ls were being upgraded to Fairchild 51s and 51As by a modification
which primarily substituted the existing engine with a 300 horsepower
Wright R-975 in the case of the 51 or a 300 horsepower Pratt &
Whitney Wasp Jr in the case of the 51A.
CF Photo |
