Ryan L-17B Navion on USS Leyte (CV-32), 1950.
The Navion is a single-engine aircraft originally developed on the rugged design lineage of the North American P51 Mustang fighter airplane.
The aircraft was designed at the end of WWII by North American Aviation and later manufactured by Ryan. It was designed for the civilian market, but also appealed to the United States Army Air Forces. From 1946-47, 1,109 were built.
In 1946 a military prototype was designated the L-17. Only 83 of the L-17A, were manufactured as liaison aircraft, personnel/cargo carriers, and as trainers. For history of the L-17, click here.
North American sold the design to Ryan and they went on to build more than a thousand aircraft with some variation in power and fuel capacity from 1948 to the early 1950s. The aircraft was then picked up in the 1960s by a company called Navion. They built and fixed ceiling version with doors and five seats called the Rangemaster. The last Rangemaster was built in 1961 to 1976.
Navion's were also used as police airplanes and to transport prisoners.
Navion is owned and operated by Sierra Hotel Aero out of South Saint Paul, MN.
For more information on the L-17 or the Navion, please click on the links below.
The aircraft was designed at the end of WWII by North American Aviation and later manufactured by Ryan. It was designed for the civilian market, but also appealed to the United States Army Air Forces. From 1946-47, 1,109 were built.
In 1946 a military prototype was designated the L-17. Only 83 of the L-17A, were manufactured as liaison aircraft, personnel/cargo carriers, and as trainers. For history of the L-17, click here.
North American sold the design to Ryan and they went on to build more than a thousand aircraft with some variation in power and fuel capacity from 1948 to the early 1950s. The aircraft was then picked up in the 1960s by a company called Navion. They built and fixed ceiling version with doors and five seats called the Rangemaster. The last Rangemaster was built in 1961 to 1976.
Navion's were also used as police airplanes and to transport prisoners.
Navion is owned and operated by Sierra Hotel Aero out of South Saint Paul, MN.
For more information on the L-17 or the Navion, please click on the links below.
Historical Documents
|
The historical documents contained on this page are the sole property of Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. The documents are intended solely for personal and non-commercial use. The documents found on this page may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any way.
|
|
