Fairchild 45

The Fairchild 45, often called the Fairchild 45-80 Sekani, was a high‑wing, all‑metal monoplane built by the Fairchild Aircraft Company in the United States during the late 1930s. Designed as a rugged, twin‑engine transport, it first flew in 1937 and entered limited production before World War II halted civilian orders. The aircraft featured a conventional, strut‑braced wing, a spacious cabin that could accommodate up to eight passengers or a mixed cargo‑passenger load, and retractable landing gear—a novelty for light transports of its era. Powered by two Warner Super Scarab radial engines delivering 125 hp each, the Fairchild 45 offered dependable performance, a cruising speed of roughly 115 mph and a range of 600 mi, making it suitable for remote bush operations, medical evacuations, and corporate travel. Its robust construction and short‑field capabilities earned it a reputation in the Canadian North, where several were operated by airline pioneers such as Western Canada Airways. Though only a handful were built, the Fairchild 45 demonstrated the potential of twin‑engine utility aircraft and paved the way for later Fairchild models like the C‑82 and C‑119, influencing post‑war cargo and troop‑transport designs.