The Fairchild Metro 23 is a airliner aircraft with a maximum range of 1,776 nm, 19 seats. SkyAccess tracks 2 active Fairchild Metro 23 aircraft across 1 certified charter operators, with 0 upcoming empty legs published on this type.
Despite a slow start to sales in the early 1970s, the Metro series has become one of the most popular 19 seat commuters. The Metro can trace its lineage back to the original Swearingen Merlin I executive transport. From the Merlin, I Swearingen developed the turboprop powered II and III which were to form the basis of the new Metro commuter airliner. The Metro was Swearingen's first complete inhouse design and development work began in the late 1960s, resulting in the SA226TC Metro's first flight on August 26, 1969. The design was similar in appearance and layout to the earlier Merlins and featured a pressurized fuselage, TPE331 turboprop engines, and double slotted trailing edge flaps. Certification was awarded in June 1970 and the first example entered commercial service in 1973. The Metro II superseded the I from 1975, with improvements to reduce cabin noise levels. The equivalent executive aircraft is the Merlin IV. Following the Metro II from 1981 was the III (by which time Fairchild had taken over Swearingen), which was certificated to SFAR41B allowing greater takeoff weights, while more efficient engines (including the option of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6As on the IIIA) and greater wing span made the III more economical to operate. The Expediter freighter is based on the III. The current Metro model is the 23.
1 certified charter operators list a Fairchild Metro 23 on SkyAccess. Operator identity is kept confidential — members and charter requests get the full list.
Contact us to access →Tail numbers, year, operator, and base for the 2 active Fairchild Metro 23 aircraft on SkyAccess are available to members.
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