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The Cessna AT-17 Bobcat was a twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft designed and made in the United States, and used during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engine trainers and twin-engine combat aircraft. The AT-17 was powered by two Jacobs R-755-9 radial piston engines. The commercial version was the Model T-50, from which the AT-17 was developed.
[edit] Development
The AT-17 was a military version of the commercial Cessna T-50 light transport. The Cessna Airplane Company first produced the wood and tubular steel, fabric-covered T-50 in 1939 for the civilian market. A low-wing cantilever monoplane, it featured retractable main landing gear and wing trailing-edge flaps, both electrically actuated. The fixed tailwheel is non-steerable and full-swivelling. In 1940, the US Army Air Corps ordered them under the designation AT-8 as multi-engine advanced trainers.
Thirty-three AT-8s were built for the Air Corps, and production continued under the designation AT-17 reflecting a change in equipment and engine types. In 1942, the Air Corps adopted the Bobcat as a light personnel transport and those delivered after January 1, 1943 were designated UC-78s. By the end of WW II, Cessna had produced more than 4,600 Bobcats for the Air Corps, 67 of which were transferred to the U.S. Navy as JRC-1s. In addition, 822 Bobcats had been produced for the Royal Canadian Air Force as Crane 1s, many of which were used in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.[1]
Dubbed the "Bamboo Bomber" by the pilots who flew them, it was one of the aircraft featured in the popular television series "Sky King" of the 1940s and '50s. In the post-war years, Bobcats continued in service with Brazil and the Nationalist Chinese.
[edit] Variants
- T-50
- Company design number. Five-seat twin-engined commercial transport aircraft, fitted with Jacobs L-4MB radial piston engines.
- AT-8
- Military trainer version of the T-50 with two 295 hp (220-kW) Lycoming R-680-9 radial piston engines, 33 built.
- AT-17
- As the AT-8 but powered by 245 hp Jacobs R-775-9 engines, 450 built some later converted to AT-17E.
- AT-17A
- As the AT-17 but with metal propellers and reduced weight, 223 built. 182 to Canada as Crane IAs and later conversion to AT-17Fs.
- AT-17B
- As the AT-17A but with equipment changes, 466 built. Subsequent aircraft were built as UC-78Bs.
- AT-17C
- As the AT-17A but different radio equipment, 60 built.
- AT-17D
- As the AT-C with equipment changes, 131 built.
- AT-17E
- AT-17 with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
- AT-17F
- AT-17A with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
- AT-17G
- AT-17B with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
- C-78
- Military transport version for the United States Army Air Force, redesignated UC-78 in 1943, 1354 built.
- UC-78
- C-78 redesignated in 1943; variable-pitch propellers..
- UC-78A
- 17 impressed civilian T-50s
- UC-78B
- Originally the AT-17B, wooden propellers and reduced weight, 1806 built.
- UC-78C
- Originally the AT-17D, same as UC-78B with equipment changes, 196 built and 131 AT-17Ds redesignated.
- JRC-1
- Navy light transport version of the UC-78 with two Jacobs R-775-9 engines, 67 delivered.
- Crane I
- Royal Canadian Air Force designation for T-50s with minor equipment changes, 640 delivered as light transports.
- Crane 1A
- 182 AT-17As delivered to Canada under lend-lease.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (AT-17)
General characteristics
- Crew: five
- Length: 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft 11 in (12.78 m)
- Height: 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
- Wing area: 295.0 ft² (27.41 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,500 lb (1588 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5,700 lb (2585 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,062 lb (2,755 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Jacobs R-755-9, 245 hp (183 kW) each
Performance
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Phillips, Edward H: Cessna, A Master's Expression, Flying Books, 1985. ISBN 0-91139-04-4
[edit] External links
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Brazil
Canada: RCAF
China
Poland: LOT Polish Airlines operated 14 UC-78 in 1946-1950
United States: US Army Air Corps, US Army Air Force
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