The Consolidated Model 17 Fleetster was a 1920s
American light transport
monoplane aircraft built by the
Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.[2] There was several closely related types the Model 17, Model 18, Model 20; then the C-11, C-22, and XBY military versions.
Design and development
The Fleetster received Approved
Type Certificate Number 369 on 29 September 1930.[3] It was designed to meet a requirement of the
New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line (NYRBA) for an aircraft to serve the coastal routes in South America. The Fleetster had a streamlined all-metal
monocoquefuselage with a wooden wing. The
powerplant was a 575 hp (429 kW)
Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet Bradial engine. It was available as a landplane or seaplane and could accommodate up to eight passengers, although the three NYRBA aircraft were fitted with two full-width seats each for three passengers.
A
parasol-wing version (the Model 20 Fleetster) was also developed with the wing supported by four short struts. The open cockpit was moved behind the passenger cabin and the resultant space was used as a cargo compartment. Three aircraft were built for NYRBA and a private
Canadian customer.
In 1932 a carrier-borne dive bomber version (Model 18) was evaluated by the
United States Navy as the XBY-1, it was not ordered but was the first
stressed-skin aircraft, and the first aircraft with so-called "
wet wing" integral fuel tanks in the wings operated by the Navy.
Operational history
One Model 20 Fleetster was operated by
Western Canada Airways, the parasol wing version. It crash into hangar in Calgary on 16 November 1931.[4]
Nine-passenger version powered by a 575hp (429kW)
Wright R-1820E Cyclone radial engine. The wing had an increased span and area to give an increased
maximum takeoff weight. Three planes were built for
Ludington Airline, they were later purchased by
Pacific Alaska Airways,[5] two of them (NC703YS, NC704Y) were resold to Soviet Union for use as Arctic rescue planes.[6][7][8] These two planes were used in heroic rescue of
SS Chelyuskin crew in April, 1934.
Model 17-2AC
One aircraft powered by a 575hp (429kW) Wright R-1820E Cyclone radial engine.
Model 18
Two-seat carrier based bomber for US Navy with revised wing (50 ft (15.24 m) span) featuring an integral fuel tank. Fitted with an internal bomb bay capable of carrying a 1,000 lb (450 kg) bomb and powered by 600 hp (448 kW) R-1820-78 engine. One built, evaluated as XBY-1 (BuNo 8921).[9]
Model 20-1
Parasol-wing version of the Model 17 for the NYRBA, four built.
Model 20-A
Production version for the
Transcontinental & Western Air was a quick-change variant for passenger or cargo work, seven built.
C-11
One Model 17 bought for use of the United States Assistant Secretary of War and designated Y1C-11, later modified to Model 17-2 standards and redesignated C-11A.