RYAN L-17A/B NAVION (US NAVY)

The Ryan L-17 Navion is a modern, light, general-purpose US-made aircraft. The flight of the prototype took place in the mid-1940s, and in 1948 the machine entered the service of the US armed forces. In total, about 2,500 examples of this aircraft of all versions were built. Originally, the L-17 Navion was developed by North American Aviation for the civilian market as a light passenger and communication machine. In the years 1946-1947, about 1,100 copies of this aircraft were produced for this purpose. At the same time, the American armed forces became interested in the plane, and in 1948 the rights to the design and its production were taken over by the Ryan Aeronautical Company. By 1951, another 1,200 machines were built, mainly for military use. The US military served two versions of this aircraft: A and B, which differed from each other mainly in the engines used and performance. To this day, many machines of this type remain active in the hands of civilian users.