O-17 Courier

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

The Consolidated O-17 Courier (company designation Model 2) was an observation and training aircraft used by the United States National Guard.

Development

A parallel development to the Consolidated 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

Turkey

Eskisehir Air School

Specifications

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 sq ft (27.5 m²)
Empty weight: 1,881 lb (853 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,723 lb (1,235 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-790-1 radial, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 118 mph (190 km/h, 103 kn)
Cruise speed: 100 mph (161 km/h, 87 kn)
Range: 550 mi (885 km, 480 nmi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
Rate of climb: 865 ft/min (4.39 m/s)

Armament

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

References

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

^ ^a ^b ^c Swanborough, F. G.; Bowers, Peter M. (1964), United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, New York: Putnam, ISBN 0-85177-816-X
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph (2002), The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, London: Amber Books, ISBN 978-0-7607-3432-2
^ ^a ^b Andrade, John M. (1979), U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909, Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0-904597-22-9
^ "1922-1929 USAAS-USAAC Serial Numbers".
^ 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.
^ "1931 USAAC Accident Reports".

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	OA-6 O-17
Fighters	P-30
Patrol	PY P2Y P3Y XP4Y-1/P4Y-2 PBY PB2Y XPB3Y PB4Y-1/-2
Bombers	B-24 B-32 XB-41 B-36 BY XB2Y LB-30A/B Liberator B.I Liberator GR.I TBY
Transports	C-11 C-22 C-87 XC-99 C-109 RY R2Y Liberator C.IX
Reconnaissance	F-7

United States observation aircraft designations, USAAC/USAAF and Tri-Service systems

USAAC/USAAF sequence
(1924–1942)

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
O-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

Tri-service sequence
(1962–present)

O-1
O-2
O-3
O-4¹
O-5
O-6

Related designations	OV-1 OV-10 OV-12

¹ Unconfirmed

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-13² 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-41² T-41 (I) T-41 (II) T-42² T-42 (I) T-42 (II) T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 B T-48² YT-48 T-48TS T-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53 T-54

Alternate sequences

1962 redesignations	T-1 T-2
1990– sequence	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6 T-7

¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to multiple types

Development

Variants

Operators

Specifications

See also

References