Fairchild C-123 Provider

Fairchild · United States · first flew 1949 · transport aircraft

The Fairchild C-123 Provider was a twin-engine, high-wing military transport built for tactical airlift into short, rough airstrips.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• high, straight wing over a boxy fuselage with a rear loading ramp
• twin large radial engines, sometimes supplemented by underwing jet pods
• tall, upright tail fin with a broad rudder

A high, straight wing, boxy fuselage, rear ramp and twin radial engines mark it out, with some examples adding small underwing jet pods.

Specifications

• The Fairchild C-123 Provider has a length of 23.24 m (76 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 33.53 m (110 ft).
• Typical crew: 3-4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Originally designed by Chase Aircraft as an assault glider before being fitted with engines, the C-123 first flew in 1949 and became a workhorse of Cold War-era tactical airlift, notably in Vietnam, where some aircraft carried auxiliary underwing jet pods and were used to spray Agent Orange defoliant.

Variants

The UC-123K added underwing J85 jet engines for hot-and-high performance; other variants were configured for defoliant spraying and gunship trials.

Where you'll see it

It served extensively with the US Air Force through the Vietnam War and later with several allied air forces before retirement.

Related aircraft

• Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar
• Fairchild C-123K Provider
• Fairchild XC-120 Packplane
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
• Beriev Be-6
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
• Douglas C-124C Globemaster II
• Grumman CSR-110 Albatross

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