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Development

The AT-17 was a military version 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. A low-wing cantilever monoplane, it featured retractable main landing gear and wing trailing-edge flaps, both electrically actuated. The fixed tailwheel is non-steerable and full-swivelling. In 1940, the US Army Air Corps ordered them under the designation AT-8 as multi-engine advanced trainers.

Thirty-three AT-8s were built for the Air Corps, and production continued under the designation AT-17 reflecting a change in equipment and engine types. In 1942, the Air Corps adopted the Bobcat as a light personnel transport and those delivered after January 1, 1943 were designated UC-78s. By the end of WW II, Cessna had produced more than 4,600 Bobcats for the Air Corps, 67 of which were transferred to the U.S. Navy as JRC-1s. In addition, 822 Bobcats had been produced for the Royal Canadian Air Force as Crane 1s, many of which were used in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.[1]

Dubbed the "Bamboo Bomber" by the pilots who flew them, it was one of the aircraft featured in the popular television series "Sky King" of the 1940s and '50s. In the post-war years, Bobcats continued in service with Brazil and the Nationalist Chinese.

Variants
T-50
Company design number. Five-seat twin-engined commercial transport aircraft, fitted with Jacobs L-4MB radial piston engines.
AT-8
Military trainer version of the T-50 with two 295 hp (220-kW) Lycoming R-680-9 radial piston engines, 33 built.
AT-17
As the AT-8 but powered by 245 hp Jacobs R-775-9 engines, 450 built some later converted to AT-17E.
AT-17A
As the AT-17 but with metal propellers and reduced weight, 223 built. 182 to Canada as Crane IAs and later conversion to AT-17Fs.
AT-17B
As the AT-17A but with equipment changes, 466 built. Subsequent aircraft were built as UC-78Bs.
AT-17C
As the AT-17A but different radio equipment, 60 built.
AT-17D
As the AT-C with equipment changes, 131 built.
AT-17E
AT-17 with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
AT-17F
AT-17A with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
AT-17G
AT-17B with gross weight limited to 5300lb.
C-78
Military transport version for the United States Army Air Force, redesignated UC-78 in 1943, 1354 built.
UC-78
C-78 redesignated in 1943; variable-pitch propellers..
UC-78A
17 impressed civilian T-50s
UC-78B
Originally the AT-17B, wooden propellers and reduced weight, 1806 built.
UC-78C
Originally the AT-17D, same as UC-78B with equipment changes, 196 built and 131 AT-17Ds redesignated.
JRC-1
Navy light transport version of the UC-78 with two Jacobs R-775-9 engines, 67 delivered.
Crane I
Royal Canadian Air Force designation for T-50s with minor equipment changes, 640 delivered as light transports.
Crane 1A
182 AT-17As delivered to Canada under lend-lease.]]> Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:13:09 GMT http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-aircraft-jacobs-32.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:33:35 GMT Year: 1943
Horsepower: 275
R.P.M.: 2000
Weight: 505 lbs.
Displacement: 757 cu. in.
Configuration: 7 cylinder radial,
air-cooled
Used in: Cessna 195, AT-17,
UC-78 and Crane]]> Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-aircraft-jacobs-32.htm http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-aircraft-pictures-31.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:32:29 GMT Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-aircraft-pictures-31.htm http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-at-17-natherfield-30.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:31:15 GMT Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-at-17-natherfield-30.htm http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-at-17natherfield-29.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:30:32 GMT Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-at-17natherfield-29.htm http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17--t-50-28.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:30:07 GMT
The need for a training plane to help pilots convert from single to twin-engine aircraft enabled Cessna to sell 550 aircraft for this purpose to Canada (Under the designation Crane), followed by 33 T-50’s to the U.S. Army Air Corps under the designation AT-8. In 1942, the USAAF felt the T-50s would work well as light personnel transports and for liaison/communication. 1,287 AT-17 Bobcats (later designated as UC-78s) were delivered and served in all theaters of war. Not to be outdone, the U.S. Navy in 1942-43 purchased 67 planes, which they designated JRC-1s, to ferry pilots between delivery ports and transport navy pilots to new duty stations. The T-50 served in these various roles for several years after the war. Over two dozen Bobcats still roam the skies of the USA, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. [History by Jeff VanDerford]

Nicknames: The Bamboo Bomber; Useless-78, The Wichita Wobbler; Brasshat; Double-Breasted Cub; Boxkite; Rhapsody in Glue; San Joaquin Beaufighter]]> Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17--t-50-28.htm http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-pictures-27.htm Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:28:59 GMT
Inter War Years

The Inter War Years covers the history of during the period between World War I and World War II. The exhibits show the evolution of aircraft from biplane to monoplane designs and fabric covered to metal skinned aircraft.

Topics such as Flights Over the Grand Canyon, Billy Mitchell’s Bombers, and a fully restored Cessna AT-17 Bobcat give a revealing glimpse into this era.]]> Cessna AT-17 http://www.picturesphoto.info/r-cessna-at-17-pictures-27.htm