The Stearman XBT-17 was a prototype 1940s
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
two-seat low-wing monoplane primary trainer designed and built by
Stearman Aircraft
Stearman Aircraft Corporation was an Aerospace manufacturer, aircraft manufacturer in Wichita, Kansas. Although the company designed a range of other aircraft, it is most known for producing the Boeing-Stearman Model 75, Model 75, which is co ...
(as the Model X-90).
It was evaluated by the United States Army Air Force in 1942 as the XBT-17.
Design and development
The X-90 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with two-seats in tandem under an enclosed canopy.
It had a fixed
conventional landing gear
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...
and was powered by a
Lycoming R-680
The Lycoming R-680 is a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, the first aero engine produced by Lycoming. The engine was produced in two types, the E and B series; both are essentially the same. The B4E was available in a trainer version wit ...
engine and first flew in 1940.
It had wooden wings and a steel tube forward fuselage in order to minimize use of aluminum.
[Bowers 1989, p.270.] In 1942 the aircraft was re-engined with a
Pratt & Whitney R-985
The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced , ...
engine and redesignated the Model X-91.
The X-91 was evaluated by the United States Army Air Force as the XBT-17 but no more were built.
Variants
;Stearman X-90
:Prototype basic trainer with a
Lycoming R-680
The Lycoming R-680 is a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, the first aero engine produced by Lycoming. The engine was produced in two types, the E and B series; both are essentially the same. The B4E was available in a trainer version wit ...
engine.
;Stearman X-91
:The X-90 re-engined with a
Pratt & Whitney R-985
The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced , ...
engine for USAAF evaluation.
;Stearman XBT-17
:United States Army Air Force designation for the X-91.
Specifications (XBT-17)
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
*
*
{{USAF trainer aircraft
BT-17
1940s United States military trainer aircraft
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1940