Sherman Fairchiid founded Fairchiid Airplane Manufacturing
Corporation in 1925. Changed to Fairchiid Aviation
Corporation in 1929 when The Aviation Corporation
acquired controlling interest. Sherman Fairchiid withdrew
in 1931, retaining a subsidiary, Kreider-Reisner Corporation,
Hagerstown, Maryland, which was renamed Fairchiid
Aircraft Corporation in 1935; became Fairchiid Aircraft
Division, Fairchiid Engine and Airplane Corporation, in
1939; Fairchiid Stratos Corporation in
FC-1 / FC-2
1961; Fairchiid Hiller
Corporation in 1964 on acquisition of Hiller Aircraft Company,
acquiring Republic Aviation Corporation in September
1965 and this becoming the Republic Aviation Division
of Fairchiid Hiller Corporation and, later, the Fairchiid
Republic Company division of Fairchiid Industries; Fairchiid
Industries Inc in 1971 (acquired 90 percent interest in
Swearingen Aviation Corporation in November 1971, which
became Fairchiid Aircraft Corporation in 1982). Metro Aviation,
with 97 percent shareholding in Fairchiid Aircraft
Corporation, sold by Fairchiid Industries to GMF
C-82 "Packet"
Investments,
but in 1990 Fairchiid Aircraft filed for bankruptcy
protection and was sold to Fairchiid Acquisition Incorporated
that year; name for producer of Metro, Merlin, and
Expediter series of twin-turboprop commuter airliner, executive
transport and freighter aircraft (plus MMSA multi-mission surveillance aircraft variant of Metro 23) became
Fairchild Aircraft Incorporated. Finally, in June 1996 parent
company Fairchild Aerospace bought 80% of the
German manufacturer Dornier Luftfahrt from Daimler-Benz
Aerospace, resulting in Fairchild Aerospace owning
all of the renamed Fairchild
Fairchild built FC-1, FC-2 and Model 71 lightplanes
1925-1931. Continued production of Kreider-Reisner
Model 24C8, later supplied in four-seat version as USAAF
UC-61 Forwarder and as RAF Argus. M-62 Cornell trainer
introduced 1940 with variety of engines. AT-21 gunnery
trainer entered production in 1942. C-82 Packet twinboom
cargo/troop transport flown September 1944; superseded
by developed C-119, first flown November 1947.
Manufactured 326 C-123 Providers 1954-1958, designed
by
C-123 "Provider"
Chase Aircraft. License-production of Fokker F-27/FH-
227 airliner began 1957; 205 built. Hiller UH-12 and H-
1100 helicopters continued in production after acquisition
of Hiller company. Production of Pilatus Turbo-Porters
begun June 1966; 15 of COIN version delivered to USAF
as AU-23A Peacemaker, transferred to Royal Thai Air Force.
In 1967 work initiated on 52 USAF AC-119 gunships.
Contracts awarded after acquisition of Republic for
weapons delivery enhancement of F-105 Thunderchief,
subcontract assemblies for McDonnell Douglas F-4, Boeing
747.
A-10 "Thunderbolt II"
Won USAF A-X competition for close-support aircraft,
prototype YA-10A flown 10 May 1972; production of A-
10A Thunderbolt II ended 1984 after 713 built, and will
remain in U.S. service until the year 2028 in A-10A attack
and 0A-10A forward air control variants with the USAF,
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve (Lockheed Martin
won contract in 1998 to provide long-term support for the
fleet). Main feature of A-10A is nose-mounted GAU-8/A
Avenger 30 mm seven-barrel cannon with 1,174 rounds
of armor-piercing ammunition. Also manufactured wings
for Merlin and Metro twin-turboprop aircraft.
