FAIRCHILD C-123 PROVIDER
C-123 SERVICE
| Manufacturers: | (prototypes and production) Chase Aircraft Co. Inc., West Trenton, New Jersey, USA (Kaiser-Frazer Corp. became majority owner in 1953) (production) The Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp., Aircraft Division, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA (experimental prototypes) Stroukoff Aviation Corp., West Trenton, New Jersey, USA |
| Models: | MS-8 (XCG-20), F-205, F-473 |
| Designations: | C-123; C-134, C-136, CG-20, G-20 |
| Names: | Provider; Black Spot (NC/AC-123K), Avitruc (XCG-20) |
| First official flight: | (XC-123) 14/10/1949 (C-123B-FA) 01/09/1954 |
| Factory production period: | 1952 - 1958 |
| Primary service period: | 1955 - 1973 |
| Last official flight: | (C-123K) 1982 |
C-123 VARIANTS
Originally designed and developed by the Chase Aircraft Co. Inc., (1943),
as a Cargo Glider (CG) in the form of the CG-18 Avitruc (7 built, 1947) and the
similar piston engined C-122 Avitruc (11 built, 1948).
Later developed into the XCG-20 Avitruc (2 built, 1949).
| 1949 | Model MS-8 | XCG-20 | 2 | Total: 002 |
| 1953 | Model F-205 | C-123B | 307 | Total: 307 |
| 1955 | Model F-205 | YC-123E | 1 | |
| 1957 | Model F-205 | YC-123H | 1 | Total: 002 |
|
Grand Total: 311 |
C-123 PRODUCTION
XCG-20 Avitruc
Prototype Cargo Glider developed from the CG-18 / C-122.
Factory modified as:
XC-123 (47-786), piston engines, first flight: 14/10/1949.
XG-20 (47-787). glider form, first flight: 26/04/1950,
converted as jet powered XC-123A, first flight: 21/04/1951.
Produced 1949 - 1950
Chase West Trenton, New Jersey (CA)
| 47-786, 47-787 | unknown | 2 | Total: 002 |
C-123B
As XC-123, squared tail, rounded cockpit windows,
engine upgrade. First 5 begun under the Chase name
by Kaiser-Frazer but completed by Fairchild.
Fairchild built airframes added a dorsal fin and from
the 16th delivery squared rear cockpit windows.
Produced 1952 - 1958
Kaiser Mfg. Corp. (Kaiser-Frazer Corp.),
Willow Run, Ypsilanti, Michigan (CN)
| 52-1627 / 52-1631 | unknown |
5 |
Fairchild Hagerstown, Maryland (FA)
| 54-552, 54-553 | 20001, 20002 | ||
|
54-555 / 54-715 - 1 (54-557), static test airframe. |
20004 / 20164 | ||
| 55-4505 / 55-4577 | 20166 / 20238 | ||
| 56-4355 / 56-4396 | 20239 / 20280 | ||
|
57-6185 / 57-6202 - 18 to Venezuela. |
20281 / 20298 | ||
| 57-6289 / 57-6294 | 20299 / 20304 | 302 | Total: 307 |
VC-123C - Proposed command transport, cancelled.
YC-123E
As C-123B, prototype with "Pantobase"
all terrain landing system, 4-bladed props.
Built from C-123B airframe s/n: 54-554.
Produced 1955
Stroukoff West Trenton, New Jersey (SA)
| 55-4031 | 20003 | 1 | Total: 001 |
YC-123H
As C-123B, prototype for rough field
operations, modified undercarriage,
wing mounted jet-pods.
Produced 1956 - 1957
Fairchild Hagerstown, Maryland (FA)
| 54-2956 | 20165 | 1 | Total: 001 |
C-136 - Proposed C-123B improvement, cancelled.
|
Grand Total: 311 |
C-123 CONVERSIONS
USAF
| NC-123B | 6 | C-123B, permanent conversions with radome and special sensors. |
| UC-123B | 3 | C-123B, 1961, defoliant sprayer for use in Vietnam. |
| VC-123B | 1 | C-123B(56-4375), Gen. Westmoreland's VIP transport in Vietnam. |
| (VC-123K) | 1 | VC-123B, 1968, upgrade to "K" standards. |
| YC-123B | 1 | C-123B-CN(52-1627), 1955, conversion with wing-tip jet pods. |
| (YC-134) | 1 | YC-123B, 1956, Boundary Layer Control
system, engine upgrade. Converted by Stroukoff Aviation Corp., New Jersey. Original designation was YC-123F. |
| (YC-134A) | 1 | YC-134, redesignation after "Pantobase" hydro-skis
were added. Converted by Stroukoff Aviation Corp., New Jersey. Original designation was YC-123G. |
| YC-123D | 1 | XC-123A(47-787), 1954, prototype with Boundary Layer
Control system and piston engine conversion, new s/n: 53-8068. Converted by Stroukoff Aviation Corp., New Jersey. |
| C-123J | 10 | C-123B, 1957, wing-tip jet pods, skis, serving in Arctic regions. |
| C-123K | 183 | Model 473 C-123B, 1966-1982, two underwing jet engines, minor improvements. Prototype was s/n: 54-581, total includes the single VC-123K. Conversions by Fairchild-Hiller Corp., Maryland. |
| (NC-123K) | 2 | Black Spot, C-123K, conversions for armed night
reconn. / surveillance. Also designated as AC-123K. |
| (UC-123K) | 34 | C-123K, conversions as defoliant sprayers in Vietnam. |
| (C-123T) | 1 | C-123K, 1980, prototype
turbo-prop upgrade for Thailand. Conversion program later cancelled. |
US Coast Guard
| SC-123B | 11 | C-123B, 1958-1962, upgrades
for search and rescue, nose radome. Assigned USCG s/n: 4357, 4358, 4505, 4507, 4509, 4529, 4540, 4541, 4589, 4668, 4705. |
| (HC-123B) | 11 | 1962-1972, redesignation of SC-123B. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- C-123's under the Military Assistance Program put into service with
Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
- Surplus aircraft later sold to Laos, The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand,
South Vietnam and other countries.
- Some aircraft sold on the civil market as transports etc.