Fairchild J2K N81348

J2K

Fairchild J2K N81348

The J2K is finally flying! The above photo was taken 28 August, 2003 from our PT-19. Piloting the Tar-Baby is Col Bill Coombes. All of the various trim, rigging, engine and brake issues have been resolved, thanks to the very hard work of many members. This day, we gave rides in the J2K to several members and flew her in formation with the PT-19.

This is the newest High Sky Wing aircraft, having been purchased by the Wing and donated to the CAF in the spring of 2001. The photo above was taken on 15 March, 2003, after a very lengthy restoration. We hope to make the first flight very soon.

Update - Col Randy Wilson made three short flights in the J2K and had issues with the trim, rigging, brakes, pitot system and engine rpm. See above for the results of all the hard work. Further test flights were done by Col Bill Coombes.

The Fairchild Model 24R was impressed into service with the USAAF as the UC-61 and by the British and Commonwealth countries as the Argus. It was also used by the U. S. Navy and Coast Guard, with the designation J2K, which is how our plane is now painted and marked. The original colors were an RAF desert camo scheme.

Once the plane arrived at the Wing hangar, it was found to have a number of maintenance issues that needed immediate attention. Not the least of these was the high oil consumption and low compression on three of the engine's six cylinders. The plane's electrical wiring was also found to need serious attention.

The original Ranger engine came off and one that the Wing had as a spare for another aircraft was installed. As the days went on, it seemed that almost everything checked or inspected needed rebuilding or major servicing.

It was on one of these days that the Wing's Maintenance Officer, Col Bill Coombes, first called the plane the Tar-Baby. The name, of course, comes from the Uncle Remus folk tales of Brer Rabbit and his nemesis Brer Fox. The Tar-Baby was a sticky doll made of tar which Brer Fox set out to entrap Brer Rabbit. Basically, the more one touches and fools with the Tar-Baby, the more one is stuck to it, unable to get free.

As the nickname spread among those working on the plane, it too stuck. Of course, this name is all in fun and should not be taken too seriously. So now you know the story of the Tar-Baby.

Above, Col Ted Claussen is stuck to the Tar-Baby and from the left, Cols Jim Moore, Bill Coombes and Bruce Wallace try to free him again.

Click here for some other images of work on the Tar-Baby, umm... J2K.