This airplane (S/N 748) was manufactured under ATC# 57 during October 1928 by the Alexander Aircraft Co., Colorado Springs, CO. It left the factory with a single Wright Whirlwind J-5 engine (S/N 9342) of 220HP. It was a three-place airplane that weighed 2,491 pounds.
The Alexander Airplane Company built 893 Eaglerock aircraft between 1926 and 1932. During that time more aircraft were built in Colorado than anywhere in the world. Eaglerocks were popular throughout the United States and many foreign countries. They were used as photographic platforms and crop sprayers, for barnstorming and even competitive air racing.
NC6376 was purchased on December 13, 1928 by Aero Corporation of California, Los Angeles, CA. The principals of Aero Corporation, Jack Frye and Paul Richter, were frequent visitors to Tucson. They each landed twice in this airplane between February 17, 1929 and April 12, 1929. The first landing, by Richter, has an interesting context that is told on the page for Fokker F-VII NC7888 (q.v.).
NC6376 suffered one accident during Aero's ownership. This occured on December 20, 1930. It had its, "left lower wing spar replaced with factory part" by December 31, 1930. By the time Aero sold it to Edward A. Dycer of Los Angeles on August 19, 1931, the airplane had accumulated over 430 total flight hours.
NC6376 went through three more owners and at least one accident up until April 25, 1935 when it was sold to Tony Brazil of Sacramento, CA. A hopper and spreader were installed for sowing crops and the airplane was registered "NR" and restricted as a single-place airplane for crop sowing.
It suffered an accident at Nevada City, CA on September 22, 1935 requiring, "repairs to L/G, motormount, fuselage & rudder, 4 wings overhauled". This repair took about 6-months to accomplish and the airplane was approved for flight on April 4, 1936 with hopper and venturi spreader installed for sowing rice. It had accumulated 1,044 flight hours at that point.
On January 26, 1937 the airplane was sold to Ralph V. Canning of Sacramento, CA. It was probably still rigged and used for agriculture, because repairs were made to the, "agitator and gear box, new hinges on rudder & tail post installed as of 7/14/37". It had accumulated about 1,244 flight hours.
NC6376 suffered a final accident at El Centro, CA on January 10, 1938. The NASM record cites, "as of 4/13/38 wheels, brakes & engine from this aircraft installed on Eaglerock c/n687 reg. #6369." The registration was cancelled on August 15, 1938. No further information.
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UPLOADED: 01/17/08 REVISED: 12/11/08
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