The Ryan (originally North American) Navion is a single-engine, unpressurized, retractable gear, four-seat aircraft originally designed and built by North American Aviation in the 1940s. It was later built by Ryan Aeronautical Company and the Tubular Steel Corporation (TUSCO). The Navion was envisioned as an aircraft that would perfectly match the expected postwar boom in civilian aviation.[citation needed] It was designed along the general lines of, and by the same company which produced the North American P-51 Mustang.[citation needed]
Navion with a Continental IO-520 engine.Navion with canopy openedRyan Navion at Delta Air Park 1988Navion G Rangemaster registered in France with modified fin and other enhancementsA factory restored 1947 North American Navion[2]
The Navion was originally designed at the end of World War II by North American Aviation as the NA-143 (but produced under the NA-145 designation).[3] North American built 1,109 Navions in 1946–47, initially selling them at a below cost US$3,995, which later increased to $6,100,[4] although the actual cost of construction was $9,000.[5] These included 83 L-17As for the US Army and National Guard.[6]
Ryan Aeronautical Company acquired the design in the summer of 1947, launching production at its San Diego factory in 1948.[7][6] Ryan built 1,240 Navions (powered by 205 hp (153 kW) Continental O-470 engines or 250 hp (190 kW) Lycoming O-435 engines), including 163 aircraft for the US armed forces, before production ended in 1951, with Ryan wanting to concentrate on defense production.[4][6][8]
Production rights passed to the TUSCO corporation, which flew a prototype of a revised version, the Navion Rangemaster G, on June 10, 1960, and set up the Navion Aircraft Company to build it. The Rangemaster G replaced the sliding canopy of the earlier Navions with a more conventional five seat cabin with access via car-type doors. Production began in 1961, and by mid-1962 was reported to be at a rate of 20 per month,[4][9] but Navion Aircraft Company went bankrupt,[10] and the rights to the Navion were picked up by the Navion Aircraft Corporation, set up by members of the American Navion Society in mid-1965.[11]
While Republic offered an amphibious aircraft, the Seabee, Cessna offered the 195, and Beechcraft offered by far the most successful type Bonanza, which remains in production in 2020. All of these aircraft, including the Navion were significantly more advanced than prewar civilian aircraft and they set the stage for aircraft built from aluminumsheets riveted to aluminum formers. It was thought that wartime pilots would come home and continue flying with their families and friends under more peaceful conditions, but the postwar boom in civilian aviation did not materialize to the extent the manufacturers envisioned.[12]
The United States Army Air Force bought 83 L-17As from North American in 1946, as a liaison and staff transport aircraft, with 36 going to the Army and 47 to the National Guard. These were supplemented by 163 L-17Bs from 1948, which were ordered by the United States Air Force on behalf of the Army and National Guard, with 129 going to the Army and the rest to the National Guard.[6] During the Korean War, the US Army's Navions added casualty evacuation and forward air controller to the aircraft's liaison and light transport duties.[6][5] The Navion was phased out of front line service by 1957, with the aircraft handed over to the Civil Air Patrol or used as hacks.[6][5]
Present dayEdit
As of 2010[update], many Navions are still flying and there is an active Navion owners community. On 18 March 2003 Sierra Hotel Aero Inc of South St. Paul, Minnesota purchased the type certificate,[13] design data, molds and tooling. Company stated in January 2013, that it was two to three years away from bringing the aircraft back into production.[14] In the meantime Sierra Hotel Aero is carrying out re-manufacturing and upgrading for some owners of Navions.[15]
Improved Navion with a 205hp Continental E-185-9 engine, 602 built.[16]
1950 Ryan Navion B
Ryan Navion B
Modified for the higher powered 260hp Lycoming GO-435-C2 engine, also known as the Super Navion 260, 222 built.[16]
Tusco Navion D
Conversion by Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 240hp Continental IO-470-P engine and tip tanks.[16]
Tusco Navion E
Conversion Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 250hp Continental IO-470-C engine and tip tanks.[16]
Tusco Navion F
Conversion Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 260hp Continental IO-470-H engine and tip tanks.[16]
Navion G Rangemaster
Redesigned aircraft by Navion Aircraft Company with 260hp Continental IO-470H engine, integral cabin and tip tanks, 121, some built as the Rangemaster G-1 with a modified fin.[16]
Navion H Rangemaster
Navion G with a 285hp Continental IO-520B engine, 60 built, an additional aircraft was built by the Navion Rangemaster Aircraft Company in 1974.[16]
Ryan Model 72
One Navion B was modified as two-seat trainer for a United States Navy competition with the Temco Model 33 Plebe.[16]
Improved D-16 conversion with two 170hp Lycoming O-340-A1A engines, nacelle tanks and 20 gallon each tip tanks, 144 gallons fuel total. 45 conversions.[16]
MilitaryEdit
L-17A
Military designation for NA-154s delivered to the United States Army, 83 built, re-designated U-18A in 1962.[16]
QL-17A
Six L-17As modified by TEMCO as remote-controlled drones for the United States Air Force.[16]
L-17B
Military designation for Ryan-built Navion As delivered to the U.S.Army, 163 built, re-designated U-18B in 1962.[16]
L-17C
L-17As modified by Ryan with improved brakes and increased fuel capacity, 35 modified, re-designated U-18C in 1962.[16]
Popular Science, May 1946, Junior Edition of Mustang early article on Navion
October 21, 2023
ryan, navion, ryan, originally, north, american, navion, single, engine, unpressurized, retractable, gear, four, seat, aircraft, originally, designed, built, north, american, aviation, 1940s, later, built, ryan, aeronautical, company, tubular, steel, corporati. The Ryan originally North American Navion is a single engine unpressurized retractable gear four seat aircraft originally designed and built by North American Aviation in the 1940s It was later built by Ryan Aeronautical Company and the Tubular Steel Corporation TUSCO The Navion was envisioned as an aircraft that would perfectly match the expected postwar boom in civilian aviation citation needed It was designed along the general lines of and by the same company which produced the North American P 51 Mustang citation needed NavionPortland International Jetport 2004 Role Light fixed wing aircraftManufacturer North American AviationRyan AeronauticalTusco Corp Introduction 1948Status ActivePrimary users United States Air ForceUnited States Army Uruguayan Air ForceNumber built 2 634 1 Variants Camair Twin NavionTemco D 16Navion with a Continental IO 520 engine Navion with canopy openedRyan Navion at Delta Air Park 1988Navion G Rangemaster registered in France with modified fin and other enhancementsA factory restored 1947 North American Navion 2 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 2 1 Present day 3 Variants 3 1 Military 4 Operators 4 1 Civil 4 2 Military 5 Specifications Super 260 Navion 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development EditThe Navion was originally designed at the end of World War II by North American Aviation as the NA 143 but produced under the NA 145 designation 3 North American built 1 109 Navions in 1946 47 initially selling them at a below cost US 3 995 which later increased to 6 100 4 although the actual cost of construction was 9 000 5 These included 83 L 17As for the US Army and National Guard 6 Ryan Aeronautical Company acquired the design in the summer of 1947 launching production at its San Diego factory in 1948 7 6 Ryan built 1 240 Navions powered by 205 hp 153 kW Continental O 470 engines or 250 hp 190 kW Lycoming O 435 engines including 163 aircraft for the US armed forces before production ended in 1951 with Ryan wanting to concentrate on defense production 4 6 8 Production rights passed to the TUSCO corporation which flew a prototype of a revised version the Navion Rangemaster G on June 10 1960 and set up the Navion Aircraft Company to build it The Rangemaster G replaced the sliding canopy of the earlier Navions with a more conventional five seat cabin with access via car type doors Production began in 1961 and by mid 1962 was reported to be at a rate of 20 per month 4 9 but Navion Aircraft Company went bankrupt 10 and the rights to the Navion were picked up by the Navion Aircraft Corporation set up by members of the American Navion Society in mid 1965 11 Operational history Edit nbsp Ryan L 17B Navion on USS Leyte CV 32 1950 While Republic offered an amphibious aircraft the Seabee Cessna offered the 195 and Beechcraft offered by far the most successful type Bonanza which remains in production in 2020 All of these aircraft including the Navion were significantly more advanced than prewar civilian aircraft and they set the stage for aircraft built from aluminum sheets riveted to aluminum formers It was thought that wartime pilots would come home and continue flying with their families and friends under more peaceful conditions but the postwar boom in civilian aviation did not materialize to the extent the manufacturers envisioned 12 The United States Army Air Force bought 83 L 17As from North American in 1946 as a liaison and staff transport aircraft with 36 going to the Army and 47 to the National Guard These were supplemented by 163 L 17Bs from 1948 which were ordered by the United States Air Force on behalf of the Army and National Guard with 129 going to the Army and the rest to the National Guard 6 During the Korean War the US Army s Navions added casualty evacuation and forward air controller to the aircraft s liaison and light transport duties 6 5 The Navion was phased out of front line service by 1957 with the aircraft handed over to the Civil Air Patrol or used as hacks 6 5 Present day Edit As of 2010 update many Navions are still flying and there is an active Navion owners community On 18 March 2003 Sierra Hotel Aero Inc of South St Paul Minnesota purchased the type certificate 13 design data molds and tooling Company stated in January 2013 that it was two to three years away from bringing the aircraft back into production 14 In the meantime Sierra Hotel Aero is carrying out re manufacturing and upgrading for some owners of Navions 15 Variants Edit nbsp North American L 17A flown by the Commemorative Air Force Camarillo Airport nbsp A twin Navion conversionNorth American NA 143 Two prototypes 16 North American NA 145 Navion North American built production aircraft 1 027 built 16 North American NA 154 Navion Military version for the United States Army as the L 17A 83 built 16 Ryan Navion Ryan built production aircraft 600 built 16 nbsp 1947 Navion ARyan Navion A Improved Navion with a 205hp Continental E 185 9 engine 602 built 16 nbsp 1950 Ryan Navion BRyan Navion B Modified for the higher powered 260hp Lycoming GO 435 C2 engine also known as the Super Navion 260 222 built 16 Tusco Navion D Conversion by Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 240hp Continental IO 470 P engine and tip tanks 16 Tusco Navion E Conversion Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 250hp Continental IO 470 C engine and tip tanks 16 Tusco Navion F Conversion Tulsa Manufacturing Company with a 260hp Continental IO 470 H engine and tip tanks 16 Navion G Rangemaster Redesigned aircraft by Navion Aircraft Company with 260hp Continental IO 470H engine integral cabin and tip tanks 121 some built as the Rangemaster G 1 with a modified fin 16 Navion H Rangemaster Navion G with a 285hp Continental IO 520B engine 60 built an additional aircraft was built by the Navion Rangemaster Aircraft Company in 1974 16 Ryan Model 72 One Navion B was modified as two seat trainer for a United States Navy competition with the Temco Model 33 Plebe 16 Camair Twin Navion twin engine conversion Camair 480 2 Continental O 470 B 240 hp each Camair 480C 2 Continental IO 470 260 hp each 25 built X 16 Bi Navion One twin engined 130hp Lycomings prototype designed and built by Dauby Equipment Company in 1952 production by Riley and later by Temco 16 Temco Riley 55 Initial version of the twin engined Navion conversion citation needed D 16 Twin Navion Production version of the X 16 with two 150hp Lycoming O 320 engines and strengthened wings 19 conversions by Riley and 46 by Temco 16 Temco D 16A Improved D 16 conversion with two 170hp Lycoming O 340 A1A engines nacelle tanks and 20 gallon each tip tanks 144 gallons fuel total 45 conversions 16 Military Edit L 17A Military designation for NA 154s delivered to the United States Army 83 built re designated U 18A in 1962 16 QL 17A Six L 17As modified by TEMCO as remote controlled drones for the United States Air Force 16 L 17B Military designation for Ryan built Navion As delivered to the U S Army 163 built re designated U 18B in 1962 16 L 17C L 17As modified by Ryan with improved brakes and increased fuel capacity 35 modified re designated U 18C in 1962 16 XL 17D Three former XL 22As for evaluation 16 XL 22A Two Ryan built Navion Bs for the U S Army re designated XL 17D 16 U 18A Former L 17As re designated in 1962 16 U 18B Former L 17Bs re designated in 1962 16 U 18C Former L 17Cs re designated in 1962 16 Operators EditCivil Edit The Navion is popular with private individuals and companies Military Edit nbsp GreeceRoyal Hellenic Air Force 17 nbsp United StatesUnited States Air Force 16 United States Army 6 Air National Guard 18 Massachusetts Air National Guard 19 nbsp Uruguay Uruguayan Air Force 5 L 17B 1949 1975 20 Specifications Super 260 Navion Edit nbsp 3 view line drawing of the Ryan L 17Data from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1951 52 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 3 passengers Length 27 ft 6 in 8 38 m Wingspan 33 ft 5 in 10 19 m Height 8 ft 8 in 2 64 m Wing area 184 sq ft 17 1 m2 Empty weight 1 930 lb 875 kg Gross weight 2 850 lb 1 293 kg Fuel capacity 40 US gal 33 imp gal 150 L Powerplant 1 Lycoming GO 435 C2 air cooled flat six engine 260 hp 190 kW take off power Performance Maximum speed 174 mph 280 km h 151 kn Cruise speed 170 mph 270 km h 150 kn Range 595 mi 958 km 517 nmi Service ceiling 18 000 ft 5 500 m Rate of climb 1 250 ft min 6 4 m s Take off run 400 ft 120 m Landing run 468 ft 143 m See also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Beechcraft Bonanza Messerschmitt Bf 108 Nord 1000 Pingouin Meyers 200 Mooney M20 Orlican L 40 Meta Sokol Piaggio P 149 Piper ComancheRelated lists List of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences EditNotes Edit Simpson Rod The General Aviation Handbook Hinckley UK Midland Publishing p 261 N512SH Archived 2015 06 26 at the Wayback Machine Navion com Retrieved June 25 2015 Taylor Michael J H ed Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation Danbury Connecticut Grolier Educational Corporation 1980 p 929 a b c Garrison Flying May 1973 p 45 a b c Huber Air amp Space October November 2008 p 45 a b c d e f g Harding 1990 pp 190 191 a b Bridgman 1951 pp 286c 287c Bridgman 1952 pp 241 242 Taylor 1962 p 248 Gilbert Flying May 1966 p 55 Taylor 1969 p 392 Laert 1989 pp 67 68 Aircraft specification NO A 782 Revision 51 Federal Aviation Administration March 2003 Retrieved April 18 2010 Wilson Benet J Holder of Navion type certificate targets new aircraft production Aopa org November 30 2006 About Us SierraHotelAero com Retrieved June 25 2015 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Simpson 1991 pp 276 278 Bridgman 1951 p 11a Swanborough and Bowers 1963 p 522 AAHS Journal Spring 2004 p 72 Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo Investigaciones El Navion en el Uruguay www pilotoviejo com Retrieved October 2 2023 Bibliography Edit Bridgman Leonard Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1951 52 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd 1951 Bridgman Leonard Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1952 53 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd 1952 Harding Stephen U S Army Aircraft Since 1947 Shrewsbury UK Airlife Publishing 1990 ISBN 1 85310 102 8 Huber Mark Accidental Classic Air amp Space October November 2008 pp 42 47 Garrison Peter Navion Flying May 1973 Vol 92 No 5 pp 42 48 Gilbert James Used Aircraft Pilot Report The Navion Flying April 1966 Vol 78 No 4 pp 54 58 Lert Peter Globe Temco Swift amp Ryan Navion Vintage Aircraft Buyer s Guide amp Price Digest Challenge Series Volume 3 1989 Ryan Aeronautical Company Navion Operation Manual 3rd ed February 1 1949 Simpson R W Airlife s General Aviation Shrewsbury UK Airlife Publishing 1991 ISBN 978 1 8531 0577 7 Simpson Rod The General Aviation Handbook Hinckley UK Midland Publishing 2005 ISBN 1 85780 222 5 Swanborough F G and Peter M Bowers United States Military Aircraft since 1909 London Putnam 1963 Taylor John W R Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1962 63 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd 1962 Taylor John W R Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1969 70 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd 1969 ISBN 0 354 000 519 Taylor Michael J H ed Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation Danbury Connecticut Grolier Educational Corporation 1980 ISBN 0 7106 0710 5 Used Aircraft Guide Norwalk Connecticut Aviation Consumer magazine Belvoir Media Group LLC 2010 U S Bureau of Aeronautics Technical Order 1L 17A 1 Flight Handbook USAF Series L 17A L 17B and L 17C Aircraft October 1 1948 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Navion Navion Navion main site Sierra Hotel Aero Inc current type certificate holder Navion photos at San Diego Air amp Space Museum Archives L 17 ORG L 17 information Popular Science May 1946 Junior Edition of Mustang early article on Navion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ryan Navion amp oldid 1178219047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
