Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker
American armed fixed-wing counter-insurgency and utility transport aircraft
Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker
The Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker is an armed fixed-wing counter-insurgency (COIN) and utility transport aircraft. It was a license-built derivative of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, produced by the American conglomerate Fairchild Industries. The AU-23 originated in the Credible Chase program, which was started by the Aeronautical Systems Division in 1971 to seek a capable armed light utility aircraft for potential use in the then-ongoing Vietnam War. The PC-6 was selected along with the Helio AU-24 Stallion to undergo an evaluation, during which the type was flown by personnel of the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) and Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF). Numerous live combat missions were flown in North Thailand as part of this evaluation. Work was halted on the initiative after it was concluded that extensive upgrades would be necessary to realistically enable the AU-23 to participate in frontline combat. The existing 34 aircraft were temporarily stored before being...
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