A true vintage gem

The influence of good aviation friends is essential for an aviator.

So says Danny Petersen, who credits his love of “old school” airplanes to one such friend.

Now living on a private airport in southern Oklahoma with a 3,000-foot grass strip, Danny first soloed in March 1988 in a Cessna 152.

“Shortly after that I bought a BC-12D Taylorcraft and with that I learned to fly,” he says, noting he earned his private pilot certificate in July 1991.

“Over the years, I was very lucky to make a good friend who had several vintage airplanes and he taught me how to fly them all, so I learned a lot from him about ‘old school’ airplanes. Since then, I love flying them!”

His love for vintage airplanes is so great that he did not hesitate to acquire one as soon as the opportunity presented itself about eight years ago when he bought a beautiful 1939 Fairchild 24W-9.

“I have been the Fairchild’s caretaker for the last eight years or so,” he relates. “I bought it from a good friend of mine and have met the last three owners. I just had to wait my turn and I got it!”

When the taildragger was manufactured as a utility aircraft for civil and military use by the Fairchild company in the early 1930s, it was originally powered by a 165-hp Warner Super Scarab engine.

However, Danny’s plane — N92E, known to many as “92 Elvis” — is powered by a Jacobs R755-9 engine.

The engine “combines very well with the airframe and runs very smoothly in cruise,” Danny says. “In fact, it is much better than the original 165-hp version.”

“It is a really good plane to fly and handles very well on the ground with its 755 in front,” he continues. “It is quite heavy on the nose, so you have to be very careful with the brakes, but other than that, it is very pleasant to fly.”

The Fairchild’s paint scheme has remained the same since 1972, when the Jacobs engine was installed. The “bullet hole” paint scheme was refreshed in 2010, according to Danny, who loves to joke with kids that his plane was shot up by the Red Baron.

Caring for an airplane that is just over 85 years old is a challenge, especially when it comes to getting spare parts, but Danny says the challenge is well worth it.

He enjoys displaying his airplane at fly-ins throughout Texas and Oklahoma, like the Fall Festival of Flight in Gainesville, Texas, where his plane won “Best Antique” in 2017.

Danny recently brought his airplane to an Airplanes & Coffee event at Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (KSLR) in Texas where the Fairchild garnered a lot of attention.

“I vividly recall spotting that stunning Fairchild,” says John Naugle, one of the founders and organizers of the event. “It’s not easy to overlook such a sizable aircraft, with its robust radial engine and beautifully finished wooden wings—a true vintage gem.”

Naugle and other organizers took “full advantage” of having this gem on hand.

“There are numerous advantages to having vintage aircraft at Airplanes and Coffee fly-ins,” he says. “First, they are simply a joy to behold. Second, they offer attendees a richer perspective on the evolution of aviation, showing just how far technology has advanced. Lastly, keeping these historic, well-maintained planes in flight helps us preserve and celebrate our aviation heritage, which is a privilege and an honor. We hope to see many more of these amazing vintage aircraft at future events.”

What does Danny enjoy most about his vintage aircraft?

“The best part of flying 92E is taking people for rides,” he says. “It has been in several weddings, gender reveals, and lots of graduation pictures. It makes me happy to share it and see the smiles when you take a young person for their first airplane ride. I think I have more fun than they do!”