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USAF C-170s
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:28 am
by kmisegades
Is there any record of C170s in use by the US military? I have found some information on the plane in the armed forces of other countries, but not ours. If this info is in the C170 Book that I have not (yet) purchased, then Gahorn will surely tell me to "buy the book", which sounds like a good idea.
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:36 am
by rudymantel
I know for a fact that the Guatemalan Air Force had at least one 170.
They wrecked it and the gentleman I went to work for rebuilt it for them. In return, they gave him a treasure trove: two Ryan STM's - like the civilian STA's, with Menasco engines, but the military single-seat version, and three Waco VPF-7's - military versions of the UPF but single seaters. All five airplanes brand new and in their original crates !
Sadly, he sold them off back in the 60's, for a small fraction of what they would fetch today.
Rudy
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:06 pm
by 4-Shipp
In the mid 50's, Cessna did some military testing in boundry layer control using the 170 but that testing was done for the Navy, not the AF. None of the info I have indicates the planes were owned or operated by the Navy nor did they recieve Navy designations. I believe they were all civilian registered and operated by Cessna.
Bruce
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:53 pm
by aoresteen
What about the O-1 Bird Dog? I thought the military bought a bunch of these and that they were Cessna 170's?
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:47 am
by 3958v
If you were not concerned with the purchase price, cost of maintance or fuel costs you probably would not buy a 170. Most of us are concerned with all three so we bought them. Bill K.
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:54 am
by 4-Shipp
Aoresteen,
Actually, Cessna built the 170A and then they built the Bird Dog using the same round tail as the 170A. After seeing the great performance of the 0-1 using the big flaps, they decided to make available the same performance into the 170 line and the B model was born.
Bruce
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:48 am
by blueldr
No one should get the idea that the flaps on the L-19/O-1 are the same as on the C-170B model. The B model, as all other Cessna aircraft produced after about 1952, has the flaps mounted on a track. The L-19/O-1 has them pivoted on a mount that protrudes well below the lower surface of the wing. very similar to a Super Cub or a Husky.
Military C-170s
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:49 am
by kmisegades
Thanks to all who responded. These confirm the results of my reviewing all my airplane books and Googling for C-170s in military garb - the US has never carried a single C-170 in its inventory. The fact that the O-1 is based on our plane says a lot about its rugged construction. Everytime I watch the Military Channel's broadcast regarding Vietnam FACs, featuring Birddogs in steep dives and wing-overs, I cringe to think what these would do to my '52 C-170B. I enjoy aerobatics, but only in a plane built for them. Any former FAC Birddog pilots out there from care to comment?