Consolidated Model 17 Fleetster

Consolidated Aircraft · United States · first flew 1929 · transport aircraft

The Consolidated Model 17 Fleetster was a late-1920s American high-wing cabin monoplane used for passenger and mail carrying, representing an early step in the transition from biplanes to streamlined monoplanes in commercial aviation.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.4 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Late 1920s American high-wing cabin monoplane
Single radial engine with NACA cowling
Early braced monoplane transport used by airlines and military

A braced high-wing monoplane with a single radial engine in a prominent NACA cowling, an enclosed cabin for passengers, and fixed spatted undercarriage; the clean lines were advanced for its 1929 appearance.

Specifications

The Consolidated Model 17 Fleetster has a length of 9.4 m (31 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
Its maximum speed is 266 km/h (165 mph).
Typical crew: 1 + 6 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1929, the Fleetster was used by airlines including New York, Rio and Buenos Aires Line (NYRBA) and Pan American Airways on early route operations. It was also operated by the US Army Air Corps and US Navy as a utility transport. The type was considered modern for its time with its clean NACA-cowled radial engine and enclosed cabin.

Variants

The Model 17 was produced in small numbers; the Model 20 Fleet and other Consolidated types shared some design lineage; minor engine variants existed.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Pan American Airways and predecessor airlines in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and by the US Army Air Corps as the YC-11.

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