The Fairchild Aircraft Company undertook a progressive development of theFairchild FC-2W2 light transport. Its first improvement was theFC-2, whose several improvements included slightly swept-back wings; wingspan increased to 50 feet; engine power nearly doubled; and interior changes to improve passenger comfort.
The FC-2 first flew in 1926.
TheFC-2W was a further development, featuring:
Camera bay for vertical aerial photography;
Low-cut aft windows for oblique aerial photography.
The FC-2 and FC-2W continued the use of fabric-covered welded steel tubing forfuselage andempennage construction, and strut-braced wooden-structure fabric-covered wings.
The FC-2W, later known as theModel 71, was built in the United States between 1928 and 1930. In 1929 Fairchild formed a company in Canada (Fairchild Aircraft Limited) atLongueuil,Quebec in 1929 to support theCanadian operators of Fairchild aircraft. The Canadian company also set up a factory production line for the Model 71, developing a variant for the Canadian military. The Canadian-built aircraft differed from the US version in that all the passenger-comfort features were removed, and the craft were built specifically for aerial photography.[1]
TheUnited States Army Air Service acquired one Model 71 for evaluation; it was designatedXC-8, later redesignatedXF-1 and used for photographic work.[2]
Eight more service-test aircraft, designatedYF-1 were ordered; all nine were later redesignatedC-8.[2]
TheRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), another major military operator, evaluated the Fairchild 71 in mid-June 1930. Thirty four RCAFF-71s were operated from 1930 to 1946. Along with the earlier FC-2 series, the RCAF F-71 was utilized primarily in the aerial photographic survey role as well as northern transport. In November 1934, the RCAF transferred the FC-71s to the five detachments flying in the amalgamatedMaritimes No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron at RCAF StationDartmouth. The squadron flew the FC-71 extensively on anti-smuggling (rum running) and illegal immigration patrols for theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).[1]
Most of the Model 71 production ended up in the hands of bush plane operators in Canada and the United States. Civilian operators likewise found the 71 a rugged, reliable and highly useful utility transport, well suited for northern and remote operations.
