Fairchild Aircraft is a former American aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company that was founded in 1924 by Sherman Fairchild. The company’s headquarters were based in various locations including Farmingdale, New York; Hagerstown, Maryland; and San Antonio, Texas. Fairchild produced several aircraft designs, including the Fairchild FC-1 which was the first US aircraft to feature a fully enclosed cockpit and hydraulic landing gear.
During World War II, Fairchild manufactured several aircraft models, such as the PT-19/PT-23/PT-26 (Cornell) and AT-21 Gunner trainers, and C-119 Flying Boxcar transport planes. Fairchild was also hired by the US government to conduct aerial photograph surveys of the United States to track soil erosion and its effects.
The company had other subsidiaries, including ArmaLite and Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. of Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. Fairchild was acquired by M7 Aerospace in 2003 and was succeeded by the same company. Walter Tydon was a key figure at Fairchild Aircraft.