Fairchild GK-1

The Fairchild GK‑1 was a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane built by Fairchild Aircraft in the late 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps as a basic trainer and liaison aircraft. Developed from the earlier Fairchild 24 family, the GK‑1 incorporated a more powerful 185‑hp Ranger L‑441 inline engine, a simple fixed‑gear undercarriage, and a fully enclosed cockpit that provided better visibility for student pilots. Its wooden‑fuselage construction, combined with fabric‑covered wings, gave the aircraft a lightweight yet sturdy airframe, allowing a maximum speed of roughly 150 mph and a service ceiling of 18,000 feet. Although only a limited production run of 72 units was completed before World War II redirected Fairchild’s resources to combat aircraft, the GK‑1 served as an effective bridge between primary trainers and more advanced types. The model demonstrated Fairchild’s capability to adapt civilian designs for military use and contributed to the development of later liaison aircraft such as the Fairchild UC‑1. Its brief operational history illustrated the transitional nature of pre‑war aviation training, and the GK‑1 remains a collectible example of interwar American aircraft design. Today, a few surviving examples are displayed in aviation museums, preserving its legacy for future generations.

Fairchild

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification