<hi style=afpcap>Fairchild produced its model 71 as a commercial transport aircraft, which was obtained by the Army as the C-8. A single example was obtained as the XC-8 in 1929 before being redesignated as an XF-1 for the photographic role. A further eight service test aircraft were ordered as the YF-1 in 1930, and were followed by six production F-1As in 1931. Somewhat confusingly these were all redesignated as the C-8 and C-8A, although they retained their primary mission of aerial photography. A normal complement of three operators was carried during photographic sorties, whereas the passenger configuration could accomodate seven. The C-8/F-1 was capable of having its wings folded for ease of storage. </hi>