A 1932 Fairchild Model 24

The detailed historical record of the dawn of U.S. civil aviation will remain intact and accessible by the public thanks to a 15-year effort by a Minnesota antique aircraft enthusiast. Greg Herrick encountered FAA intransigence over the release of date held by the FAA on many vintage aircraft from the inter-war period. The issue arose when trying to get drawings for the tail of a 1937 Fairchild.

The agency invoked a ban on distribution of the material, which includes technical drawings, test data and other information about the construction of the aircraft, on the premise that it would violate the "trade secrets" of the current holders of those type certificates. In reality however, almost none of the aircraft are still in production and few of the original manufacturers are still around.

After 13 years of court battles Herrick finally got the drawings he needed and approached GA advocate Rep. Sam Graves, for a legislative fix as he was concerned that not only was it difficult to get access to the date, but it was also in danger of being destroyed by the FAA. The result was a change in the law which orders the FAA to maintain the records of more than 1,200 aircraft that received an "Approved Type Certificate" between 1927 and 1939. The new law invalidates the trade secret claim for aircraft from that era. It's naturally of great importance to those who own or are restoring aircraft from those times but Herrick said it's important for other reasons, too.

"Beginning with the Wright brothers, the United States has led the way for aviation - and these files chronicle the development of our aircraft industry. They document the very fabric of American innovation," said Herrick. "The accessibility and preservation of these files ensures an irreplaceable resource for present and future generations. It also allows vintage aircraft owners to maintain the continued safe operation of aircraft that are still flying."

The Fairchild is in Herrick's hangar, one of five restoration projects waiting its turn.