AT-17/UC-78 Bobcat Crane Model T-50
General information
Type	Trainer,five-seat light transport andutility aircraft
Manufacturer	Cessna Aircraft Company
Status	Retired, some examples in private use
Primary users	United States Army Air Forces Royal Canadian Air Force United States Navy
Number built	5,422
History
Manufactured	1939-1944
First flight	26 March 1939 (T-50)

TheCessna AT-17 Bobcat orCessna Crane is a twin-engine advancedtrainer aircraft designed and made in the United States, and used duringWorld War II to bridge the gap between single-engine trainers and larger multi-engine combat aircraft. The commercial version was theModel T-50, from which the military versions were developed. Additional versions and names include theAT-8 trainer,UC-78 transport and bomber, and theCrane Mk.I in Canadian service.

In 1939, three years afterClyde Cessna retired, the Cessna T-50 made its first flight, becoming the company's first twin-engine airplane, and its firstretractable undercarriage airplane. The prototype T-50 first flew on 26 March 1939,^[1] and was issued ApprovedType Certificate 722 on 24 March 1940.^[2]

TheAT-8,AT-17,C-78,UC-78, andCrane were military versions of the commercialCessna T-50 light transport. TheCessna Airplane Company first produced the wood and tubular steel, fabric-covered T-50 in 1939 for the civilian market, as a lightweight and lower cost twin for personal use where larger aircraft such as theBeechcraft Model 18 would be too expensive. A low-wingcantilevermonoplane, it featuredretractable main landing gear and trailing edge wingflaps, both electrically actuated via chain-driven screws. The retracted main landing gear left some of the wheels extended below the enginenacelle for emergency wheel-up landings. The wing structure was built around laminated spruce spar beams,truss-style spruce and plywood ribs, and plywood wing leading edges and wing tips. The fixedtailwheel is not steerable, but can be locked straight. The Curtiss Reed metal fixed-pitch propellers were soon replaced withHamilton Standard 2B-20-213 hydraulically actuated,constant-speed,non-featherable propellers. Power was provided by two 225 hp (168 kW)JacobsL-4MBradial engines rated at 245 hp (183 kW) for takeoff. Production began in December 1939.^{[3]: 35–36, 45–46}

On 19 July 1940,United States Assistant Secretary of WarLouis A. Johnson ordered 33 AT-8 trainers, based on the T-50 for theUnited States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Modifications included cockpit roof windows, more powerful 290 hp (220 kW)Lycoming R-680 engines and military radios. The first AT-8 was delivered to the USAAC in December 1940, and in late 1941, the US Army ordered an additional 450 AT-17s, based on the T-50. Modifications included additional cockpit windows and 245 hp (183 kW)Jacobs R-755-9 engines.^{[3]: 36–41} Production for the U.S. Army Air Corps continued under the designation AT-17 reflecting a change in equipment and engine types. In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Force (the successor to the Air Corps from June 1941) ordered the Bobcat as a light transport asC-78s, which were redesignated asUC-78s on 1 January 1943. By the end of World War II, Cessna had produced more than 4,600 Bobcats for the U.S. Army, 67 of which were transferred to theUnited States Navy asJRC-1s. The Navy used the aircraft primarily for shuttling crews offerry flights to and from their home bases.^[4] The Bobcat was given the nickname "Bamboo Bomber" in US service. Few Bobcats were still in service with the United States Air Force when it was formed in September 1947, and the type was declared obsolete in 1949.^[5]

In September 1940, theRoyal Canadian Air Force ordered 180Crane Mk.I trainers, Cessna's largest order to date. Modifications for the RCAF includedHartzell fixed-pitch wooden propellers, removable cylinder head baffles, andoil heaters. The first Crane Mk.I was delivered to the RCAF in November 1940, and Cessna then received an additional order from the RCAF for 460 more Crane Mk.Is. An additional 182 AT-17A were received by the RCAF through lend-lease, operated under the designationCrane Mk.IA, bringing the total produced for the RCAF to 822, which were operated under theBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).^[6]

In addition to military orders, theCivil Aeronautics Administration (CAA, precursor to the FAA) ordered 13 T-50s, andPan American Airways ordered 14 T-50s. Aircraft operated by the US military and by the RCAF were retired shortly after the end of the war and many were exported worldwide including toBrazil and theNationalist Chinese.

After the war, surplus AT-17s and UC-78s could be converted with CAA-approved kits to civilian-standard aircraft allowing their certification under the original T-50 approved type certificate.^[2] They were used by small airlines, charter and bush operators, and private pilots. Some were operated on floats. By the 1970s, the number of airworthy aircraft had dwindled as they were made obsolete by more modern types and by the maintenance required by their aging wood wing structures and fabric covering. Since then, several have been restored by antique airplane enthusiasts.

As of December 2017, FAA records show 52 T-50s, two AT-17s, and five UC-78s listed on its registration database.^[7][8][9]

It was featured in the populartelevision seriesSky King of the early-to-mid 1950s.^{[3]: 44–45} The aircraft was replaced in later episodes by the T-50's successor, the all-metalCessna 310. One also stood in for Japanese twin engine bombers in the low level attack scene on the US PT boat base in the 1963 film,PT-109

T-50

fitted withJacobs L-4MB radial piston engines.

P-7

experimental T-50 with more powerful 300 hp (220 kW)Jacobs L-6MB engines, and plywood covered tailplane and wings, one built, first flown 2 June 1941.

P-10

1941 advanced bomber trainer with modified fuselage, sliding canopy and 330 hp (250 kW) Jacobs engines, one built.^[10]

AT-8

Military advanced trainer with two 295 hp (220 kW)Lycoming R-680-9 radial piston engines, 33 built.

AT-17

As per AT-8 but powered by 245 hp (183 kW)Jacobs R-755-9 (L-4) engines, 450 built, some later converted to AT-17E.

AT-17A

As per AT-17 but with metalpropellers and reduced weight, 223 built. 182 toCanada as Crane Mk.IAs and later conversions to AT-17Fs.

AT-17B

As per AT-17A but with equipment changes, wooden propellers and reduced weight, 466 built. Subsequent aircraft were built as UC-78Bs.

AT-17C

As per AT-17A but differentradio equipment, 60 built.

AT-17D

As per AT-17C with equipment changes, 131 built.

AT-17E

AT-17 with gross weight limited to 5,300 lb (2,400 kg).

AT-17F

AT-17A with gross weight limited to 5,300 lb (2,400 kg).

AT-17G

AT-17B with gross weight limited to 5,300 lb (2,400 kg).

C-78

Transport with variable-pitch propellers, became UC-78 in 1943, 1354 built.

UC-78

C-78 redesignated in 1943

UC-78A

17 civilian T-50s impressed.

UC-78B

AT-17B redesignated, 1806 built.

UC-78C

AT-17D redesignated, 131 AT-17Ds redesignated and 196 built.

JRC-1

Navy light transport version of the UC-78 with two Jacobs -9 engines, 67 delivered.

Crane Mk.I

640 T-50s with minor equipment changes.

Crane Mk.IA

182 AT-17As delivered to RCAF under lend-lease.

 Brazil

• Brazilian Air Force (operated 39 from 1943 to 1956)

Canada

• Royal Canadian Air Force (operated 822 from 1941 to 1949)
  • No. 3 Service Flying Training School RCAF (SFTS) —Calgary, Alberta^[11]
  • No. 4 SFTS —RCAF Station Saskatoon^[11]
  • No. 10 SFTS —RCAF Station Dauphin^[11]
  • No. 11 SFTS —RCAF Station Yorkton^[11]
  • No. 12 SFTS —RCAF Station Brandon^[11]
  • No. 15 SFTS —RCAF Station Claresholm^[11]
  • No. 1 Flying Instructor School —RCAF Station Trenton^[11]
  • No. 2 Flying Instructor School —RCAF Station Vulcan/RCAF Station Pearce^[11]
  • No. 3 Flying Instructor School —RCAF Station Arnprior^[11]
  • Central Flying School —RCAF Station Trenton^[11]
• Queen Charlotte Airlines

 Costa Rica

• Air Force of Costa Rica (operated one in 1948)

Ethiopia

• Ethiopian Air Force (operated two from 1946 to 1965)

 France

• French Air Force andFrench Navy (operated eight from 1943 to 1951)

 Guatemala

• Guatemalan Air Force (received one in 1949)

 Haiti

• Haiti Air Corps (operated four from 1943 to 1995)

 Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan Air Force (received two in 1947)

North Yemen

• Yemeni Air Force (operated three from 1950 to 1958)

 Republic of China

• Republic of China Air Force (operated 15 from 1946 to 1950)

 Peru

• Peruvian Air Force (operated nine from 1945 to 1958)

 Poland

• LOT Polish Airlines (operated 14 in 1946-1950)^[12]

 United States

• Civil Aeronautics Authority
• United States Army Air Corps/United States Army Air Forces
• United States Navy
• Northern Consolidated Airlines
• Wiggins Airways^[13]
• Wisconsin Central Airlines
• Friedkin Airlines^[14]

• 7829 – Crane Mk.I at theWestern Development Museum inMoose Jaw, Saskatchewan.^[15]
• 7862 – Crane Mk.I airworthy at theCanadian Warplane Heritage Museum inHamilton, Ontario.^[16]
• 8676 – Crane Mk.I on static display at theCanada Aviation and Space Museum inOttawa, Ontario.^[17][18]
• 8769 – Crane Mk.IA airworthy withVintage Wings of Canada inGatineau, Quebec.^[19]
• 8778 – Crane Mk.IA theReynolds-Alberta Museum inWetaskiwin, Alberta.^[20][21]
• 8841 – Crane in storage at the Memorial Military Museum inCampbellford, Ontario.^[22]
• c/n 3760 – UC-78B at theBomber Command Museum of Canada inNanton, Alberta.^[23]
• Crane on static display at theCommonwealth Air Training Plan Museum inBrandon, Manitoba.^[24]
• T-50 on static display atThe Hangar Flight Museum inCalgary, Alberta.^[25]

• 8139 – Crane Mk.I airworthy at the Wings of War Museum inPalmyra, Pennsylvania.^[26][27]
• 42-39162 – UC-78B on static display at thePima Air & Space Museum inTucson, Arizona.^[28]
• 42-71507 – UC-78 on display at theWestern Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum inHood River, Oregon.^[29][30]
• 42-71626 – UC-78B on static display at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force inDayton, Ohio.^[31]
• 42-71714 – UC-78B on static display at theMuseum of Aviation inWarner Robins, Georgia.^[32]
• 43-1838 – UC-78 in storage at theCastle Air Museum inAtwater, California.^[33]
• 43-7995 – UC-78B on static display at theNational Naval Aviation Museum inPensacola, Florida.^[34][35]
• 43-31765 – UC-78 at theMilitary Aviation Museum inVirginia Beach, Virginia.^[36]
• 43-31917 – UC-78B under restoration at theMid-Atlantic Air Museum inReading, Pennsylvania.^[37]
• 43-32549 – UC-78A airworthy at theNational WASP WWII Museum atAvenger Field inSweetwater, Texas.^[38][39][40]
• 43-32578 – UC-78B airworthy with the Jayhawk Wing of theCommemorative Air Force inWichita, Kansas.^[41][42][43]
• 43-81935 – UC-78B in storage at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.^[44]
• 3696 – JRC-1 airworthy at theAmerican Heritage Museum inStow, Massachusetts.^[45][46]
• 64469 – JRC-1 in storage at theYanks Air Museum inChino, California.^[47][48][49]
• c/n 4629 – T-50 in storage at theAlaska Aviation Museum inAnchorage, Alaska.^[50][51]
• c/n 6184 – T-50 at theAirpower Museum inOttumwa, Iowa.^[52]

General characteristics

• Crew: pilot + four
• Length: 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 11 in (12.78 m)
• Height: 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
• Wing area: 295 sq ft (27.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
• Gross weight: 5,700 lb (2,585 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,062 lb (2,750 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 ×Jacobs R-755-9 seven-cylinder, air-cooled,radial piston engine, 245 hp (183 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 195 mph (314 km/h, 169 kn)
• Cruise speed: 175 mph (282 km/h, 152 kn)
• Stall speed: 63–66 mph (101–106 km/h, 55–57 kn)
• Range: 750 mi (1,210 km, 650 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s)
  
• Take-off run: 650 ft (200 m) to 50 ft (15 m)^{[note 1]}
• Landing run: 1,400 ft (430 m) from 50 ft (15 m) with a 90 mph (140 km/h) approach speed^{[note 1]}

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Airspeed Oxford
• Avro Anson
• Caproni Ca.313
• Farman F.430
• Potez 56
• Siebel Si 204
• Tachikawa Ki-54

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of aircraft of Canada's air forces
• List of aircraft of the United States during World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States

Wikimedia Commons has media related toCessna T-50.

• Bridgman, Leonard (1952).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1952–53. London, UK: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.ASIN B000S9SYD8.
• "Cessna Model T-50".Aviation. Vol. 39, no. 1. January 1940. pp. 46–47.
• Jońca, Adam (1985).Samoloty linii lotniczych 1945-1956 [Airplanes of the airlines 1945-1956]. Barwa w lotnictwie polskim no.4 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 12.ISBN 8320605296.
• Juptner, Joseph P (1994).U.S. Civil Aircraft Series, Vol.8. TAB Books.ISBN 0-816891788.
• Milberry, Larry; Halliday, Hugh A. (1990).The Royal Canadian Air Force at War, 1939-1945. Toronto, ON: CANAV Books.ISBN 978-0921022046.
• Mondey, David (2006).American Aircraft of World War II. Hamlyn Concise Guide. London, UK: Bounty Books.ISBN 978-0753714614.
• Phillips, Edward H (1985).Cessna, A Master's Expression. Flying Books.ISBN 0911139044.
• Shiel, Walt (1995).Cessna Warbirds, A Detailed & Personal History of Cessna's Involvement in the Armed Forces. Iola, WI: Jones Publishing.ISBN 978-1879825253.
• Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1989).United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Putnam.ISBN 085177816-X.
• Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1976).United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 (2nd ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-968-5.
• Wixley, Kenneth E. (January 1984). "Cessna Bobcat: A Production History".Aircraft Illustrated. Vol. 17, no. 1. pp. 13–16.ISSN 0002-2675.

• Cessna aircraft
• 1930s United States civil utility aircraft
• 1940s United States military trainer aircraft
• 1940s United States military utility aircraft
• Low-wing aircraft
• Aircraft first flown in 1939
• Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear
• Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft

• Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2021
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from May 2022
• Use American English from May 2022
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Aircraft specs templates using more performance parameter
• Commons category link from Wikidata
• CS1 Polish-language sources (pl)