Tom - I'm late to this discussion, just recently joined POA as I've been staying away from internet forums for the past couple of years. I remember when you first got the Fairchild, brought it home and did the restoration. I've always wanted something with a round engine and roll down windows.
You've had plenty of consoling posts here, there's not much I can add. Have you ever read Jimmy Doolittle's book "I could never be so lucky again"? He should have called it "I can't believe I cracked up that many airplanes and lived to tell about it". At one time, Lockheed had given him a brand new Vega. He loaded his whole family in it, clipped a little snowdrift on take-off and completely destroyed the thing. Lockheed then gave him another one (we should be so lucky) and he crashed that one too.
Anyway, hope everything works out. I know how you feel about putting so much into rebuilding something that, in these days, doesn't make a lot of sense due to the cost of fuel to run it. If you decide not to just make sure it winds up in the hands of someone who will bring it back. Don't let it waste away or go to the scrap heap. That would be a real shame.
I've come to learn that we never "own" these old birds. We are just temporary caretakers.
Good luck Tom
