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Consolidated O 17 Courier

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Top speed
  
190 km/h

Length
  
8.51 m

Manufacturer
  
Consolidated Aircraft

Wingspan
  
10 m

First flight
  
April 1927

Consolidated O-17 Courier httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Short clip of an rcaf consolidated o 17 courier as a float plane at jericho circa 1930


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.

It was used almost exclusively as a cross-country flying, gunnery, photographic and radio trainer. 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. It was later fitted with the experimental Packard DR-980 Diesel engine of 225 hp (168 kW).

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.

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.
O-17 Model 2 Courier
Production version for United States National Guard use, 29 built.
XO-17A (prototype)
One Consolidated PT-3 converted with a Wright R-790-3 engine intended for export.
Model 7 (RCAF landplane)
Royal Canadian Air Force, two built.
Model 8 (RCAF floatplane)
Royal Canadian Air Force, one built.
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.
XPT-8A
A single PT-3A (29-115) similarly converted with a Packard DR-980 Diesel engine with Project Number 'P-564', but returned to PT-3A configuration. 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.
Model 15 (demonstrator)
Conversion with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine.

Operators

 Canada
  • Royal Canadian Air Force
    •  United States
  • United States National Guard

    • Specifications (O-17)

    Data from Eden & Moeng (2002)

    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

    Consolidated O-17 Courier Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA