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Cessna At-17The Cessna AT-17 "Bobcat" was a twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engine trainers and twin-engine combat aircraft. The AT-17 was powered by two Jacobs R-755-9 radial piston engines. The AT-17 was a military version of the commercial Cessna T-50 light transport. Cessna first produced the wood and tubular steel, fabric covered T-50 in 1939 for the civilian market. A low-wing cantilever monoplane, it featured a unique retractable tailwheel and wing trailing-edge flaps, both electrically actuated. In 1940, the 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 AAF adopted the Bobcat as a light personnal 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 AAF, 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". 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. Specifications (AT-17) General characteristics - Crew: Five
- 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: 295.0 ft² (27.41 m²)
- Empty: 3,500 lb (1588 kg)
- Loaded: 5,700 lb (2585 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 6,062 lb (2,755 kg)
- Powerplant: 2x Jacobs R-755-9, 245 hp (183 kW) each
Performance - Maximum speed: 195 mph (314 km/h)
- Cruising speed: 175 mph (282 km/h)
- Range: 750 miles (1207 km)
- Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6705 m)
- Rate of climb:
- Wing loading:
- Power/mass:
Designations - T-50: company design number (with Jacobs L-4MB radial engines)
- AT-8: Advanced trainer (with Lycoming R-680-9 engines)
- AT-17: Advanced trainer (with Jacobs R-755-9 engines)
- UC-78: light transport similar to AT-17
- JRC: Navy light transport similar to AT-17
- Crane: RCAF light transport
Variations - UC-78 - Had variable-pitch propellers.
- UC-78B - The 1806 model UC-78Bs built were equipped with fixed-pitch, wooden props that greatly compromised their performance.
Nicknames - The Bamboo Bomber
- Useless-78
- The Wichita Wobbler
- Brasshat
- Double-Breasted Cub
- Boxkite
- Rhapsody in Glue
- San Joaquin Beaufighter
External link Related content Related development: Comparable aircraft: Designation sequence: AT-14 - AT-15 - AT-16 - AT-17 - AT-18 - AT-19 - AT-20
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