Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker
Fairchild · United States · first flew 1971 · light aircraft
The Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker was an armed STOL utility aircraft produced by Fairchild as the American version of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, fitted with a turboprop engine and provision for a side-firing gun and light ordnance. It was intended for counter-insurgency and special operations use.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.23 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Turboprop-powered STOL armed utility aircraft
- Fairchild-built version of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter
- High-wing COIN aircraft supplied to Thailand under USAF programme
A high-wing STOL aircraft with a long nose-mounted turboprop, large-chord wings and a slab-sided utility fuselage; closely resembles the Pilatus PC-6 but fitted with a side-firing gun port.
Specifications
- The Fairchild AU-23A Peacemaker has a length of 11.23 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.14 m (50 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 265 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 1+10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1971, the AU-23A competed in the USAF Credible Chase programme alongside the Helio AU-24 Stallion. Thailand was selected as the recipient nation and received 15 aircraft, which the Royal Thai Air Force used for COIN and border patrol operations.
Variants
The AU-23A was the armed militarised version; the standard civil equivalent was the Pilatus PC-6 Turbo-Porter. The competing design in the Credible Chase programme was the Helio AU-24.
Where you'll see it
Supplied to the Royal Thai Air Force under the US Foreign Military Sales programme in the early 1970s; the aircraft served for several decades on border patrol and COIN duties in Thailand.
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