Header
Site Map Link

Northrop A-17A

The Northrop A-17 was a two-seat USAAC attack bomber built in the mid 1930's.  Per Reference [8] it was fitted with perferated flaps, an internal bomb bay, and external bomb racks.  The initial base A-17 version of this plane had fixed landing gear but the A-17A was configured with retractable gear.  The base A-17 was ordered in 1935 and entered service in February 1936.  In addition to serving with the USAAC, variants of the A-17 also served with Argentina, Peru, Sweden, the Netherlands, Iraq, Great Britain (from an original order made by France), South Africa and Canada.  In addition Norway ordered which were diverted to a Norwegian training camp in Canada due to the fall of Norway.  Some of these Norwegian aircraft appear to have been requisitioned by the USAAC as trainers and others appear  to have eventually been sold to Peru.  

In 1939 The Northrop Corporation became a subsidiary of the Douglas Aircraft company resulting in many export variants of the A-17 being designated the Douglas Model 8.  A total of 411 aircraft were built, in several different variants for both the USAAC and foreign buyers.  While in service with the USAAC some appear to have been used for maritime patrols on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal during the early part of WWII, while others were used as trainers or utility aircraft.  Per Reference [8] the last of these aircraft were retired from service by the USAAC in 1944.

As shown in the image below distinguishing features of this aircraft including;
A-17A
[Original Image source is US Government - Public Domain - via the National Museum of the USAF [Ref 9], as annotated by this site]

The table below summarizes the current data collected on this type aircraft, identifying sources for the data
    A-17A Sources Notes
Primary Source   2 3,8
No of Crew   2
Engine:    
   Qty   1
   Model   R-1535-13
   Displacement  (cu in) 1535
   Power    
     Military (HP)  
     War Emergency (HP)  
    Normal (HP) 750
    Take Off (HP) 825
   Eng Dims    
     Length (ft) 4.44
     Width/Dia (ft) 3.68
     Height (ft)  
   Base Engine Wt (lb) 1130
Propeller    
   # Blades   3
   Dia (ft) 9.5
   Manufacturer    
   Type   2-Post
Wing    
   Span (ft) 47.8
   Root Thickness (%) 15.0%
  (in) 15.7
   Total Area  (sq ft) 363
     Wing (less Ailerons & Flaps) (sq ft)  
     Ailerons (sq ft)  
     Flaps (sq ft)  
Tail Area (sq ft) 90.86
   V Tail Area (sq ft) 26.8
     Fin (sq ft)  
     Rudder (sq ft)  
   H Tail Area (sq ft) 64.06
     Stabilizer (sq ft)  
     Elevator (sq ft)  
Total Control Surf Area (sq ft)  
Length    
   Overall (ft) 32.1
   Fuselage (ft) 28.6
   Body  (ft) 30.5375
     Body Depth (ft)  
    Body Width (ft)  
Fuel Tank Volume (gal)  
   Wing Tanks (gal)  
    FuselageTanks (gal)  
Oil Tank Volume (gal)  
Water Injection Fluid Tank Volume (gal)  
Wetted Area (sqf) (sq ft)  
Pwr Ldng (lb/HP) 9.14
Wing Ldng (lb/sq ft) 20.78
Struct. Des. GW  (lb)  
Ultimate Load Factor (G's)  
Design Speed (mph)  
Not to Exceed Speed (mph)  
     
Total Struct Weight   2403
   Total Wing   1045
     Wing    
     Ailerons    
     Flaps    
     Fuselage Carry-Through    
   Tail   150
     H Tail   105
       Stabilizer    
       Elevator    
     V Tail   45
       Fin    
       Rudder    
   Body + Eng Section + LG    
   Body + LG   1208
   Body   623
     Fuselage    
     Engine Section    
   Landing Gear   585
     Mn Landing Gr   545
     Tail/Nose Aux LG   40
   Tail Hook    
   Booms    
   Nacelles    
Total Propulsion Weight   1730
   Engine w/ Accessories   1198
   Engine(s) as Installed   1090
     Accessories   108
    Turbocharger(s)    
   Controls   10
   Propeller(s)   243
     2-Blade    
     3-Blade   243
     4-Blade    
   Starting System   43
   Water Injection System    
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
   Cooling System    
   Lube System   32
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
   Fuel System   204
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
Total Sys. & Eqpmt.   973
   Instruments   46
   Surface Controls    112
   Hydraulics    
   Electrical Equip   224
Electronics (Purple means incl in Furn/Gray in Useful Ld)    
   Arm Prov/Equipment & Armor    
    Furnishings   591
   Anti-Ice (If not in Furn)    
   Other /Misc    
     Hoisting Gear    
     Floatation Gear    
     Armor Plate    
     
Empty Wt   5106
Basic Mission Useful Load   2437
   Crew   400
   Equipment    
   Oil   105
   Fuel   907
   Fuel & Oil Trapped in Systems    
   Water Solution for Engine Injection    
   Bombs/Torp Etc   654
   Radio (if Not Included in Empty Wt)    
   Nav Equipment    
   Oxygen System    
   Armament   268
     Guns & Ammo   268
       Guns   105
       Ammo   163
     Pyrotechnics    
     Camera    
     Other    
   Other Useful Load   103
Basic Mission GW   7543

Notes: This website has been developed with a number of low cost or free programs including Hot Metal Pro, KompoZer, MicroSoft Designer and Da Button Factory.com

Rev 3-8-25

Home