https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Navion
The Ryan (originally North American) Navion is a United States 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, since it was designed along the general lines of, and by
the same company which produced the North American P-51 Mustang, generally
regarded as one of the best Allied fighter aircraft.
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). It was
designed for the civilian market but also attracted the interest of the United
States Army Air Forces. The Army Air Force ordered 83 of the NA-154 version,
designated the L-17A, to be used as a liaison aircraft, personnel and cargo
carrier, and trainer for the university-based Reserve Officers Training Corps
flight training program, 35 of which were later converted to L-17C standard by
the Schweizer Aircraft Company by fitting them with L-17B model features such as
an auxiliary fuel tank.
Ryan Aeronautical Company acquired the design in 1948, and built approximately
1,200 examples over the following three years. Ryan designated the aircraft the
Navion A with a 205 hp (153 kW) Continental E-185-3 or -9 and, later, the Navion
B with 260 hp (194 kW) engines of either the Lycoming GO-435-C2, or optionally
the Continental IO-470 engine. The Navion As became the basis for the military
L-17B.
TUSCO took over production of the Navion in the mid-1950s, manufacturing D, E
and F models with a variety of enhancements including tip tanks and flush
rivets. Navion Rangemaster aircraft were manufactured from 1961 to 1976. Their
production followed that of earlier canopy-model Navion aircraft. In addition to
the 39.5-gallon (150 litre) main fuel tanks, the Rangemasters added tip tanks
with 34 gallons (128 l) each. The total fuel capacity of 107.5 gallons (407 l)
gave these Navions the range for which they are named. TUSCO also introduced the
Navion Rangemaster G model in 1960, which incorporated all previous
advancements, replaced the Navion's sliding canopy with a side door, enlarged
the cabin, created five separate seats, and standardized use of tiptanks and
larger, late-model Continental engines. An H Model was produced as well, very
nearly the same as the G Model except for a few minor enhancements. The last few
Navions were manufactured (all H Models) by Navion Aircraft Company during a
short production run ending in 1976 during one of several attempts to restore
the airplane to commercial viability.
Role
Light fixed-wing aircraft
Manufacturer
North American Aviation
Ryan Aeronautical
Tusco Corp.
Introduction
1948
Status
Active
Primary users
United States Military
Private owners
Number built
2,634 (Simpson, p.261)
Variants
Camair Twin Navion
Temco D-16
Pre-World War II, light civilian aircraft such as the Piper J-3 Cub and Aeronca
Champion typically were made of wood or steel-tube fuselages with wooden wings.
These pre-war designs were also marketed after the war, but did not sell well.
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 2017. 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.
Sales of the Navion were helped by the visibility of several celebrities who
flew them, including Veronica Lake, Arthur Godfrey, Mickey Rooney and Bill
Cullen. Retired Utah Senator Jake Garn is a current Navion owner.
Specifications (Super 260 Navion)
General characteristics
Crew: 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)
(take-off power)
Performance
Maximum speed: 174 mph (280 km/h; 151 kn)
Cruise speed: 170 mph (274 km/h; 148 kn)
Range: 595 mi (517 nmi; 958 km)
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)
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