Fairchild (1) C-123 Provider
The Fairchild C-123 Provider was designed for short-field tactical transport, using large flaps and robust landing gear to supply remote bases. It became famous in Vietnam, where some aircraft sprayed defoliant under Operation Ranch Hand and others carried cargo into small, threatened airstrips. Jet pods were fitted to a few Providers to improve takeoff performance, creating a striking piston-and-jet hybrid. The aircraft’s high wing and twin tail booms made it well suited to rough-field military work.
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Did you know?
A few C-123 Providers had jet pods bolted on for extra takeoff power, creating an unusual piston-and-jet hybrid transport.
Specifications
| Length | 23.9 m (78 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 33.5 m (110 ft) |
| Height | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 61 |
| Persons on board | 64 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 27.2 t |
| Range | 1,200 NM (2,222 km) |
| Maximum speed | 245 kt (454 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 25,000 ft (7,620 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 24,000 ft (7,315 m) |
| Rate of climb | 890 ft/min (4.5 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,800 m (5,906 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,800 m (5,906 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 7,200 l |
| Engines | 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W |
| Units built | 307 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Fairchild (1) C-123 Provider starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Fairchild (1), the C-123 Provider family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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