The Cessna AT-17 Bobcat or Cessna Crane is a twin-engine advanced trainer aircraft designed and made in the United States, and used during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engine trainers and larger multi-engine combat aircraft. The commercial version was the Model T-50, from which the military versions were developed.
In 1939, three years after Clyde Cessna retired, the Cessna T-50 made its first flight, becoming the company's first twin-engine airplane, and its first retractable undercarriage airplane. The prototype T-50 first flew on 26 March 1939,[1] and was issued Approved Type Certificate 722 on 24 March 1940.[2]
The AT-8, AT-17, C-78, UC-78 and Crane were military versions of the commercial Cessna T-50 light transport. The Cessna Airplane Company first produced the wood and tubular steel, fabric-covered T-50 in 1939 for the civilian market, as a lightweight and lower cost twin for personal use where larger aircraft such as the Beechcraft Model 18 would be too expensive. A low-wing cantilevermonoplane, it featured retractable main landing gear and trailing edge wing flaps, both electrically actuated via chain-driven screws. The retracted main landing gear left some of the wheels extended below the engine nacelle for emergency wheel-up landings. The wing structure was built around laminated spruce spar beams, truss-style spruce and plywood ribs, and plywood wing leading edges and wing tips. The fixed tailwheel is not steerable, but can be locked straight. The Curtiss Reed metal fixed-pitch propellers were soon replaced with Hamilton Standard 2B-20-213 hydraulically-actuated, constant-speed, non-featherable propellers. Power was provided by two 225 hp (168 kW) Jacobs L-4MB engines rated at 245 hp (183 kW) for takeoff. Production began in December 1939.[3]: 35–36, 45–46
Operational historyEdit
UC-78 in flight
US MilitaryEdit
On 19 July 1940, United States Assistant Secretary of WarLouis A. Johnson ordered 33 AT-8 trainers, based on the T-50 for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Modifications included cockpit roof windows, more powerful 290 hp (220 kW) Lycoming R-680 engines and military radios. The first AT-8 was delivered to the USAAC in December 1940, and in late 1941, the US Army ordered an additional 450 AT-17s, based on the T-50. Modifications included additional cockpit windows and 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs R-755-9 engines.[3]: 36–41 Production for the U.S. Army Air Corps continued under the designation AT-17 reflecting a change in equipment and engine types. In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Force (the successor to the Air Corps from June 1941) ordered the Bobcat as a light transport as C-78s, which were redesignated as UC-78s on 1 January 1943. By the end of World War II, Cessna had produced more than 4,600 Bobcats for the U.S. Army, 67 of which were transferred to the United States Navy as JRC-1s. It was given the nickname the "Bamboo Bomber" in US service. Few Bobcats were still in service with the United States Air Force when it was formed in September 1947, and the type was declared obsolete in 1949.[4]
Royal Canadian Air ForceEdit
In September 1940, the Royal Canadian Air Force ordered 180 Crane Mk.I trainers, Cessna's largest order to date. Modifications for the RCAF included Hartzell fixed-pitch wooden propellers, removable cylinder head baffles, and oil heaters. The first Crane Mk.I was delivered to the RCAF in November 1940, and Cessna then received an additional order from the RCAF for 460 more Crane Mk.Is. An additional 182 AT-17A were received by the RCAF through lend-lease, operated under the designation Crane Mk.IA, bringing the total produced for the RCAF to 822, which were operated under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).[5]
Other operatorsEdit
In addition to military orders, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA, precursor to the FAA) ordered 13 T-50s, and Pan American Airways ordered 14 T-50s. Aircraft operated by the US military and by the RCAF were retired shortly after the end of the war and many were exported worldwide including to Brazil and the Nationalist Chinese.
After the war, surplus AT-17s and UC-78s could be converted with CAA-approved kits to civilian-standard aircraft allowing their certification under the original T-50 approved type certificate.[2] They were used by small airlines, charter and bush operators, and private pilots. Some were operated on floats. By the 1970s, the number of airworthy aircraft had dwindled as they were made obsolete by more modern types and by the maintenance required by their aging wood wing structures and fabric covering. Since then, several have been restored by antique airplane enthusiasts.
As of December 2017, FAA records show 52 T-50s, two AT-17s, and five UC-78s listed on its registration database.[6][7][8]
Notable appearances in mediaEdit
It was featured in the popular television series Sky King of the early-to-mid 1950s.[3]: 44–45 The aircraft was replaced in later episodes by the T-50's successor, the all-metal Cessna 310.
experimental T-50 with more powerful 300 hp (220 kW) Jacobs L-6MB engines, and plywood covered tailplane and wings, one built, first flown 2 June 1941.
P-10
1941 advanced bomber trainer with modified fuselage, sliding canopy and 330 hp (250 kW) Jacobs engines, one built.[9]
USAAC/USAAF designationsEdit
Cessna AT-17 trainerRestored UC-78C
AT-8
Military advanced trainer with two 295 hp (220 kW) Lycoming R-680-9 radial piston engines, 33 built.
AT-17
As per AT-8 but powered by 245 hp (183 kW) Jacobs R-755-9 (L-4) engines, 450 built, some later converted to AT-17E.
AT-17A
As per AT-17 but with metal propellers and reduced weight, 223 built. 182 to Canada as Crane Mk.IAs and later conversions to AT-17Fs.
AT-17B
As per AT-17A but with equipment changes, wooden propellers and reduced weight, 466 built. Subsequent aircraft were built as UC-78Bs.
Bridgman, Leonard (1952). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1952–53. London, UK: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. ASIN B000S9SYD8.
"Cessna Model T-50". Aviation. Vol. 39, no. 1. January 1940. pp. 46–47.
Jońca, Adam (1985). Samoloty linii lotniczych 1945-1956 [Airplanes of the airlines 1945-1956]. Barwa w lotnictwie polskim no.4 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 12. ISBN8320605296.
Juptner, Joseph P (1994). U.S. Civil Aircraft Series, Vol.8. TAB Books. ISBN0-816891788.
Milberry, Larry; Halliday, Hugh A. (1990). The Royal Canadian Air Force at War, 1939-1945. Toronto, ON: CANAV Books. ISBN978-0921022046.
Mondey, David (2006). American Aircraft of World War II. Hamlyn Concise Guide. London, UK: Bounty Books. ISBN978-0753714614.
Phillips, Edward H (1985). Cessna, A Master's Expression. Flying Books. ISBN0911139044.
Shiel, Walt (1995). Cessna Warbirds, A Detailed & Personal History of Cessna's Involvement in the Armed Forces. Iola, WI: Jones Publishing. ISBN978-1879825253.
Skaarup, Harold A. (6 February 2020). "Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Canada". www.SilverHawkAuthor.com. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1989). United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Putnam. ISBN085177816-X.
Wixley, Kenneth E. (January 1984). "Cessna Bobcat: A Production History". Aircraft Illustrated. Vol. 17, no. 1. pp. 13–16. ISSN 0002-2675.
October 25, 2023
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The Cessna AT 17 Bobcat or Cessna Crane is a twin engine advanced trainer aircraft designed and made in the United States and used during World War II to bridge the gap between single engine trainers and larger multi engine combat aircraft The commercial version was the Model T 50 from which the military versions were developed AT 17 UC 78 BobcatCraneModel T 50Role Trainer five seat light transport and utility aircraftManufacturer Cessna Aircraft CompanyFirst flight 26 March 1939 T 50 Status retiredPrimary users United States Army Air ForcesRoyal Canadian Air ForceUnited States NavyProduced 1939 1944Number built 5 422 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 2 1 US Military 2 2 Royal Canadian Air Force 2 3 Other operators 2 4 Notable appearances in media 3 Variants 3 1 Company designations 3 2 USAAC USAAF designations 3 3 USN designation 3 4 RCAF designations 4 Operators 5 Survivors and Museum aircraft 6 Specifications AT 17 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Notes 8 2 Citations 8 3 BibliographyDesign and development Edit nbsp T 50 in flightIn 1939 three years after Clyde Cessna retired the Cessna T 50 made its first flight becoming the company s first twin engine airplane and its first retractable undercarriage airplane The prototype T 50 first flew on 26 March 1939 1 and was issued Approved Type Certificate 722 on 24 March 1940 2 The AT 8 AT 17 C 78 UC 78 and Crane were military versions of the commercial Cessna T 50 light transport The Cessna Airplane Company first produced the wood and tubular steel fabric covered T 50 in 1939 for the civilian market as a lightweight and lower cost twin for personal use where larger aircraft such as the Beechcraft Model 18 would be too expensive A low wing cantilever monoplane it featured retractable main landing gear and trailing edge wing flaps both electrically actuated via chain driven screws The retracted main landing gear left some of the wheels extended below the engine nacelle for emergency wheel up landings The wing structure was built around laminated spruce spar beams truss style spruce and plywood ribs and plywood wing leading edges and wing tips The fixed tailwheel is not steerable but can be locked straight The Curtiss Reed metal fixed pitch propellers were soon replaced with Hamilton Standard 2B 20 213 hydraulically actuated constant speed non featherable propellers Power was provided by two 225 hp 168 kW Jacobs L 4MB engines rated at 245 hp 183 kW for takeoff Production began in December 1939 3 35 36 45 46 Operational history Edit nbsp UC 78 in flightUS Military Edit On 19 July 1940 United States Assistant Secretary of War Louis A Johnson ordered 33 AT 8 trainers based on the T 50 for the United States Army Air Corps USAAC Modifications included cockpit roof windows more powerful 290 hp 220 kW Lycoming R 680 engines and military radios The first AT 8 was delivered to the USAAC in December 1940 and in late 1941 the US Army ordered an additional 450 AT 17s based on the T 50 Modifications included additional cockpit windows and 245 hp 183 kW Jacobs R 755 9 engines 3 36 41 Production for the U S Army Air Corps continued under the designation AT 17 reflecting a change in equipment and engine types In 1942 the U S Army Air Force the successor to the Air Corps from June 1941 ordered the Bobcat as a light transport as C 78s which were redesignated as UC 78s on 1 January 1943 By the end of World War II Cessna had produced more than 4 600 Bobcats for the U S Army 67 of which were transferred to the United States Navy as JRC 1s It was given the nickname the Bamboo Bomber in US service Few Bobcats were still in service with the United States Air Force when it was formed in September 1947 and the type was declared obsolete in 1949 4 Royal Canadian Air Force Edit In September 1940 the Royal Canadian Air Force ordered 180 Crane Mk I trainers Cessna s largest order to date Modifications for the RCAF included Hartzell fixed pitch wooden propellers removable cylinder head baffles and oil heaters The first Crane Mk I was delivered to the RCAF in November 1940 and Cessna then received an additional order from the RCAF for 460 more Crane Mk Is An additional 182 AT 17A were received by the RCAF through lend lease operated under the designation Crane Mk IA bringing the total produced for the RCAF to 822 which were operated under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan BCATP 5 Other operators Edit In addition to military orders the Civil Aeronautics Administration CAA precursor to the FAA ordered 13 T 50s and Pan American Airways ordered 14 T 50s Aircraft operated by the US military and by the RCAF were retired shortly after the end of the war and many were exported worldwide including to Brazil and the Nationalist Chinese After the war surplus AT 17s and UC 78s could be converted with CAA approved kits to civilian standard aircraft allowing their certification under the original T 50 approved type certificate 2 They were used by small airlines charter and bush operators and private pilots Some were operated on floats By the 1970s the number of airworthy aircraft had dwindled as they were made obsolete by more modern types and by the maintenance required by their aging wood wing structures and fabric covering Since then several have been restored by antique airplane enthusiasts As of December 2017 FAA records show 52 T 50s two AT 17s and five UC 78s listed on its registration database 6 7 8 Notable appearances in media Edit It was featured in the popular television series Sky King of the early to mid 1950s 3 44 45 The aircraft was replaced in later episodes by the T 50 s successor the all metal Cessna 310 Variants EditCompany designations Edit nbsp CAA FAA precursor Cessna T 50T 50 fitted with Jacobs L 4MB radial piston engines P 7 experimental T 50 with more powerful 300 hp 220 kW Jacobs L 6MB engines and plywood covered tailplane and wings one built first flown 2 June 1941 P 10 1941 advanced bomber trainer with modified fuselage sliding canopy and 330 hp 250 kW Jacobs engines one built 9 USAAC USAAF designations Edit nbsp Cessna AT 17 trainer nbsp Restored UC 78CAT 8 Military advanced trainer with two 295 hp 220 kW Lycoming R 680 9 radial piston engines 33 built AT 17 As per AT 8 but powered by 245 hp 183 kW Jacobs R 755 9 L 4 engines 450 built some later converted to AT 17E AT 17A As per AT 17 but with metal propellers and reduced weight 223 built 182 to Canada as Crane Mk IAs and later conversions to AT 17Fs AT 17B As per AT 17A but with equipment changes wooden propellers and reduced weight 466 built Subsequent aircraft were built as UC 78Bs AT 17C As per AT 17A but different radio equipment 60 built AT 17D As per AT 17C with equipment changes 131 built AT 17E AT 17 with gross weight limited to 5 300 lb 2 400 kg AT 17F AT 17A with gross weight limited to 5 300 lb 2 400 kg AT 17G AT 17B with gross weight limited to 5 300 lb 2 400 kg C 78 Transport with variable pitch propellers became UC 78 in 1943 1354 built UC 78 C 78 redesignated in 1943 UC 78A 17 civilian T 50s impressed UC 78B AT 17B redesignated 1806 built nbsp RCAF Cessna Crane as used in the BCATP at the Canadian Warplane Heritage MuseumUC 78C AT 17D redesignated 131 AT 17Ds redesignated and 196 built USN designation Edit JRC 1 Navy light transport version of the UC 78 with two Jacobs 9 engines 67 delivered RCAF designations Edit Crane Mk I 640 T 50s with minor equipment changes Crane Mk IA 182 AT 17As delivered to RCAF under lend lease Operators Edit nbsp Cessna Crane mounted on floats for use as bushplane in Canada nbsp BrazilBrazilian Air Force operated 39 from 1943 to 1956 nbsp CanadaRoyal Canadian Air Force operated 822 from 1941 to 1949 No 3 Service Flying Training School RCAF SFTS Calgary Alberta 10 No 4 SFTS RCAF Station Saskatoon 10 No 10 SFTS RCAF Station Dauphin 10 No 11 SFTS RCAF Station Yorkton 10 No 12 SFTS RCAF Station Brandon 10 No 15 SFTS RCAF Station Claresholm 10 No 1 Flying Instructor School RCAF Station Trenton 10 No 2 Flying Instructor School RCAF Station Vulcan RCAF Station Pearce 10 No 3 Flying Instructor School RCAF Station Arnprior 10 Central Flying School RCAF Station Trenton 10 Queen Charlotte Airlines nbsp Costa RicaAir Force of Costa Rica operated one in 1948 nbsp EthiopiaEthiopian Air Force operated two from 1946 to 1965 nbsp FranceFrench Air Force and French Navy operated eight from 1943 to 1951 nbsp GuatemalaGuatemalan Air Force received one in 1949 nbsp HaitiHaiti Air Corps operated four from 1943 to 1995 nbsp NicaraguaNicaraguan Air Force received two in 1947 nbsp North YemenYemeni Air Force operated three from 1950 to 1958 nbsp Republic of ChinaRepublic of China Air Force operated 15 from 1946 to 1950 nbsp PeruPeruvian Air Force operated nine from 1945 to 1958 nbsp PolandLOT Polish Airlines operated 14 in 1946 1950 11 nbsp United StatesCivil Aeronautics Authority United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Navy Northern Consolidated Airlines Wiggins Airways 12 Wisconsin Central AirlinesSurvivors and Museum aircraft Edit nbsp UC 78 Bobcat of the National WASP Museum 7729 Crane Mk I at Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Winnipeg Manitoba 13 7829 Crane Mk I at Western Development Museum Moose Jaw Saskatchewan 13 7862 Crane Mk I at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Hamilton Ontario 14 13 8676 Crane Mk I at Canada Aviation and Space Museum Ottawa Ontario 15 13 8778 Crane Mk IA Reynolds Alberta Museum Wetaskiwin Alberta 13 8841 Crane Memorial Military Museum Campbellford Ontario 13 Cessna Crane serial unknown CF HGM Crane at Bomber Command Museum of Canada Nanton Alberta 13 Cessna Crane serial unknown at Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Brandon Manitoba 13 42 72157 UC 78B Bobcat at Pima Air amp Space Museum Tucson Arizona 16 42 71626 UC 78B Bobcat at National Museum of the United States Air Force Dayton Ohio 17 43 32549 UC 78 Bobcat at the National WASP WWII Museum at Avenger Field in Sweetwater TexasSpecifications AT 17 Edit nbsp 3 view line drawing of the Cessna AT 17 BobcatGeneral characteristics Crew pilot four Length 32 ft 9 in 9 98 m Wingspan 41 ft 11 in 12 78 m Height 9 ft 11 in 3 02 m Wing area 295 sq ft 27 4 m2 Empty weight 3 500 lb 1 588 kg Gross weight 5 700 lb 2 585 kg Max takeoff weight 6 062 lb 2 750 kg Powerplant 2 Jacobs R 755 9 seven cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 245 hp 183 kW eachPerformance Maximum speed 195 mph 314 km h 169 kn Cruise speed 175 mph 282 km h 152 kn Stall speed 63 66 mph 101 106 km h 55 57 kn Range 750 mi 1 210 km 650 nmi Service ceiling 22 000 ft 6 700 m Rate of climb 1 150 ft min 5 8 m s Take off run 650 ft 200 m to 50 ft 15 m note 1 Landing run 1 400 ft 430 m from 50 ft 15 m with a 90 mph 140 km h approach speed note 1 See also Edit nbsp Aviation portalAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Airspeed Oxford Avro Anson Caproni Ca 313 Farman F 430 Potez 56 Siebel Si 204 Tachikawa Ki 54Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of Canada s air forces List of aircraft of the United States during World War II List of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cessna T 50 Notes Edit a b At a gross weight of 5 200 lb 2 400 kg Citations Edit Wixley 1984 p 13 a b Juptner 1994 pp 85 88 a b c Shiel 1995 pp 15 16 Swanborough 1989 p page needed Phillips 1985 p page needed FAA Registry Aircraft Make Model Inquiry faa gov Retrieved 11 June 2016 FAA Registry Aircraft Make Model Inquiry faa gov Retrieved 11 June 2016 FAA Registry Aircraft Make Model Inquiry faa gov Retrieved 11 June 2016 Cessna P 10 aerofiles Retrieved 15 September 2018 a b c d e f g h i j Milberry 1990 pp 456 459 Jonca 1985 p 12 Bridgman 1952 p 28 a b c d e f g h Skaarup 2020 Cessna Crane Mk I Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Retrieved 21 December 2020 CESSNA CRANE Canada Aviation and Space Museum Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation Retrieved 23 May 2017 Pima Air amp Space Museum 2021 Cessna UC 78B JRC 1 Bobcat pimaair org Archived from the original on 2 March 2021 Retrieved 21 February 2022 National Museum of the United States Air Force Cessna UC 78B Bobcat nationalmuseum af mil Archived from the original on 2 February 2022 Retrieved 21 February 2022 Bibliography Edit Bridgman Leonard 1952 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1952 53 London UK Sampson Low Marston amp Co ASIN B000S9SYD8 Cessna Model T 50 Aviation Vol 39 no 1 January 1940 pp 46 47 Jonca Adam 1985 Samoloty linii lotniczych 1945 1956 Airplanes of the airlines 1945 1956 Barwa w lotnictwie polskim no 4 in Polish Warsaw Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Lacznosci p 12 ISBN 8320605296 Juptner Joseph P 1994 U S Civil Aircraft Series Vol 8 TAB Books ISBN 0 816891788 Milberry Larry Halliday Hugh A 1990 The Royal Canadian Air Force at War 1939 1945 Toronto ON CANAV Books ISBN 978 0921022046 Mondey David 2006 American Aircraft of World War II Hamlyn Concise Guide London UK Bounty Books ISBN 978 0753714614 Phillips Edward H 1985 Cessna A Master s Expression Flying Books ISBN 0911139044 Shiel Walt 1995 Cessna Warbirds A Detailed amp Personal History of Cessna s Involvement in the Armed Forces Iola WI Jones Publishing ISBN 978 1879825253 Skaarup Harold A 6 February 2020 Warplanes of the Second World War preserved in Canada www SilverHawkAuthor com Retrieved 16 October 2022 Swanborough Gordon Bowers Peter M 1989 United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 Putnam ISBN 085177816 X Wixley Kenneth E January 1984 Cessna Bobcat A Production History Aircraft Illustrated Vol 17 no 1 pp 13 16 ISSN 0002 2675 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cessna AT 17 Bobcat amp oldid 1169448013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
