FBA 17

Updated on Oct 18, 2023

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Top speed 150 km/h Length 8.94 m Designer Louis Schreck		Wingspan 13 m Manufacturer Franco-British Aviation

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The FBA 17 was a training flying boat produced in France in the 1920s.

Design and development

FBA 17 WINGS PALETTE SchreckFBA FBA17 Poland

Similar in general layout to the aircraft that FBA had produced during World War I, the Type 17 was a conventional two-bay biplane with unequal-span, unstaggered wings and side-by-side open cockpits. The pusher engine was mounted on struts in the interplane gap. Apart from their use by the French Navy, a small number were sold to the Polish Navy, the Brazilian Air Force, and civil operators as well. Some versions were built as amphibians, and others had fittings to allow them to be catapulted from warships.

In 1931, the US Coast Guard purchased an example for evaluation, and being pleased with the design, arranged for the type to be built under licence by the Viking Flying Boat Company in New Haven, Connecticut. Six aircraft were eventually produced and served with the Coast Guard under the designation OO until the outbreak of World War II.

FBA 17

Hispano-Suiza 8A-powered versions

HE 2 - (Hydravion d'École) 2-seat trainer (over 300 built)

HL 1 - (Hydravion de Liaison) 1-seat catapulatable liaison aircraft (1 built)

HL 2 - 2-seat catapultable liaison aircraft (10 built)

HMT 2 - (Hydravion Mixte de Transport) 2-seat amphibious transport aircraft (37 built)

HMB 2 - 17 HMT 2s already in service with the French Navy, were redesignated HMB 2, after being fitted with a bomb rack on the port side of the hull.

HMT 4 - 4-seat amphibious transport aircraft (2 built)

HT 4 - (Hydravion de Transport) 4-seat transport aircraft (35 built)