Consolidated O-17 Courier

O-17 Courier

A Maryland Air National Guard Consolidated O-17
Role	Observation
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft Company
First flight	April 1927
Primary users	United States National Guard Royal Canadian Air Force
Produced	1928
Number built	35
Variants	Consolidated PT-3

The Consolidated Model 2 Courier was an observation and training airplane used by the United States National Guard, under the designation O-17.

Development

A parallel development to the PT-3 series, the XO-17 was a converted PT-3 with such refinements as improved fuselage streamlining, oleo shock absorbers, wheel brakes, balanced elevators and increased fuel capacity.^[1]

It was used almost exclusively as a cross-country flying, gunnery, photographic and radio trainer.^[2] The O-17 had a removable fairing (carrying a Scarff ring mounting for one .30 cal (7.62 mm) trainable Browning machine gun.

The Royal Canadian Air Force purchased three generally similar aircraft, two Model 7 landplanes and one Model 8 floatplane, the latter with the same float gear as the NY series.

The sole XO-17A was converted from the PT-3 as a demonstrator that failed to secure any orders.^[2] It was later fitted with the experimental Packard DR-980 Diesel engine of 225 hp (168 kW).^[1]

The Model 15 was also an O-17 type airframe fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine. It too failed to win any contracts.^[2]

Variants

XO-17 (prototype): Consolidated PT-3 Conversion with a 225 hp (168 kW) Wright R-790-1 engine, streamlined fuselage, modified undercarriage, increased fuel capacity, provision for dual controls and a dorsal 0.3 in (7.62 mm) gun, one conversion.^[3]
O-17 Model 2 Courier: Production version for United States National Guard use, 29 built.^[2]
XO-17A (prototype): One Consolidated PT-3 converted with a Wright R-790-3 engine intended for export.^[3]
Model 7 (RCAF landplane): Royal Canadian Air Force, two built.^[2]
Model 8 (RCAF floatplane): Royal Canadian Air Force, one built.^[2]
XPT-8 (demonstrator): The airframe of the XO-17A prototype fitted with a Packard DR-980 Diesel engine of 225 hp (168 kw), scrapped in 1932.^[1]
XPT-8A: A single PT-3A (29-115) similarly converted with a Packard DR-980 Diesel engine with Project Number 'P-564',^[4] but returned to PT-3A configuration.^[5] The airframe was subsequently lost in a fatal midair with a P-12C of the 17th Pursuit Squadron 2 miles W of New Baltimore, Michigan on 17 December 1931.^[6]
Model 15 (demonstrator): Conversion with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine.^[2]

Operators

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

United States

United States National Guard

Specifications (O-17)

Data from Eden & Moeng (2002)^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 27 ft 11 in (8.51 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 5.5 in (10.5 m)
Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
Wing area: 296 ft² (27.5 m²)
Empty weight: 1,881 lb (853 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,723 lb (1235 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-790-1 radial, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 118 mph (190 km/h)
Cruise speed: 100 mph (161 km/h)
Range: 550 miles (885 km)
Service ceiling: 12,000' (3660 m)
Rate of climb: 865 ft/min (264 m/min)

Armament

1 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine gun

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Consolidated O-17 Courier.

1 2 3 Swanborough, F. G.; Bowers, Peter M. (1964), United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, New York: Putnam, ISBN 0-85177-816-X
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph (2002), The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, London: Amber Books, ISBN 978-0-7607-3432-2
1 2 Andrade, John M. (1979), U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909, Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0-904597-22-9
↑ http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1922.html
↑ Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9, page 198.
↑ http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/1940sB4/1931.htm

Aircraft produced by Consolidated Aircraft

Manufacturer designation	1 2 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 39 40

By role	Trainers NY PT-1 PT-2 PT-11 AT-22 Observation aircraft O-17 Fighter P-30 Patrol PY P2Y P3Y XP4Y-1/P4Y-2 PBY PB2Y XPB3Y PB4Y-1/-2 Bombers X/B-24 B-32 XB-41 B-36 BY XB2Y LB-30A/B Liberator B.I Liberator GR.I Transports C-11 C-22 C-87 XC-99 C-109 RY R2Y Liberator C.IX Reconnaissance F-7

USAAC/USAAF observation aircraft

Observation	O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 O-11 O-12 O-13 O-14 O-15 O-16 O-17 O-18 O-19 O-20 O-21 O-22 O-23 O-24 O-25 O-26 O-27 O-28 O-29 O-30 O-31 O-32 O-33 O-34 O-35 O-36 O-37 O-38 O-39 O-40 O-41 O-42 O-43 O-44 O-45 O-46 O-47 O-48 O-49 O-50 YO-51 O-52 O-53 O-54 O-55 O-56 O-57 O-58 O-59 O-60 O-61 O-62 O-63

Observation Amphibian	OA-1 OA-2 OA-3 OA-4 OA-5 OA-6 OA-7 OA-8 OA-9 OA-10 OA-11 OA-12 OA-13 OA-14 OA-15 SA-16

United States trainer aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Advanced Trainer
(1925-1948)

Basic Combat
(1936-1940)

Basic Trainer
(1930-1948)

Primary Trainer
(1924-1948)

Main sequence
(1948-present)

1948 redesignations	T-6 T-7 T-11 T-13A T-13B/D T-17 T-19

New designations	T-28 T-29 T-30 T-31 T-32 T-33 T-34 T-35 T-36 T-37 T-38 T-39 T-40 T-41 T-42 T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 T-48 (I) T-48 (II) CT-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53

Alternate sequences

1962 redesignations	T-1 T-2

1990-1996 sequence	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6

¹ Not assigned

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