Northrop A-17
Northrop · United States · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Northrop A-17 was a 1930s American single-engine light attack bomber developed for the US Army Air Corps from Jack Northrop's earlier Gamma design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- single radial engine on a low tapered wing
- fixed trouser-style landing gear fairings on early models
- long framed canopy over pilot and rear gunner
Identified by its low tapered wing, single radial engine, and a slender fuselage with a long glazed canopy covering pilot and rear gunner positions.
Specifications
- The Northrop A-17 has a length of 9.67 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.54 m (48 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1934, it served briefly with the Army Air Corps before many aircraft were sold for export, most notably as the Nomad to Britain and other Allied air arms in the early years of the Second World War.
Variants
Variants included the fixed-gear A-17 and improved A-17A with retractable undercarriage; export models were sold to France, Britain, Iraq, the Netherlands East Indies, Norway and Peru.
Where you'll see it
Retired from front-line US service by the early 1940s and used briefly in second-line roles overseas; a handful survive today in museums, with only limited British use as the Nomad.
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