Consolidated O-17 Courier

O-17 Courier
A Maryland 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.

Contents

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]

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]
Model 15 (demonstrator)
Conversion with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine.[2]

Operators

 Canada
 United States

Specifications (O-17)

Data from Eden & Moeng (2002)[2]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Swanborough, F. G.; Bowers, Peter M. (1964), United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, New York: Putnam, ISBN 085177816X, http://books.google.com/books?id=3QZUAAAAMAAJ&q=O-17 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph (2002), The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, London: Amber Books, ISBN 9780760734322, http://books.google.com/books?id=6xMYAAAACAAJ 
  3. ^ a b Andrade, John M. (1979), U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909, Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0904597229, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-KMgAAAAMAAJ&q=Courier 
Aircraft produced by Consolidated Aircraft
Manufacturer designation

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By role

Trainers: 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

Reconaisance: F-7
USAAC/USAAF observation aircraft
Observation

O-1  • O-2  • XO-3  • XO-4  • O-5  • O-6  • O-7  • O-8  • O-9  • XO-10  • O-11  • O-12  • O-14  • XO-14  • XO-15  • XO-16  • O-17  • XO-18  • O-19  • YO-20  • XO-21  • O-22  • YO-23  • O-24  • O-25  • Y1O-26  • Y1O-27  • O-28  • O-29  • O-30  • O-31  • O-32  • Y1O-33  • O-34  • O-35  • XO-36  • O-37  • O-38  • O-39  • O-40  • Y1O-41  • O-42  • O-43  • XO-44  • O-45  • O-46  • O-47  • XO-48  • O-49  • YO-50  • YO-51  • O-52  • O-53  • YO-54  • YO-55  • O-56  • O-57  • O-58  • O-59  • O-60  • XO-61  • O-62  • XO-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
USAAC/USAAF/USAF/Tri-service trainer aircraft
Advanced Trainer

AT-1 · AT-2 · AT-3 · AT-4 · AT-5 · AT-6 · AT-7 · AT-8 · AT-9 · AT-10 · AT-11 · AT-12 · XAT-13 · XAT-14 · XAT-15 · AT-16 · AT-17 · AT-18 · AT-19  · AT-20 · AT-21 · AT-22 · AT-23 · AT-24
Basic Combat

BC-1 · BC-2 · BC-3
Basic Trainer

BT-1 · BT-2 · YBT-3  · XBT-4  · YBT-5 · BT-6 · Y1BT-7 · BT-8 · BT-9 · Y1BT-10 · BT-11 · BT-12 · BT-13 · BT-14 · BT-15 · XBT-16 · XBT-17
Primary Trainer (1924-1948)

PT-1 · XPT-2 · PT-3 · PT-4 · XPT-5 · YPT-6 · YPT-7 · XPT-8 · YPT-9 · YPT-10 · PT-11 · PT-12 · PT-13 · PT-14 · YPT-15 · PT-16 · PT-17 · PT-18 · PT-19 · PT-20 · PT-21 · PT-22 · PT-23 · PT-24 · YPT-25  · PT-26 · PT-27
Trainer (1948-1990)

T-28 · T-29 · XT-30 · XT-31 · XT-32 · T-33 · T-34 · T-35 · XT-36 · T-37 · T-38 · T-39 · T-40 · T-41 · T-42 · T-43 · T-44 · T-45 · T-46 · T-47 · YT-48 · T-48 · CT-49 · T-50 · T-51 · T-52 · T-53
"T-1", "T-2", "T-3" and "T-6" have also been assigned since 1962 in a separate sequence.
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