USAF C-170s

[kmisegades]

Is there any record of C170s in use by the US military? I have found some information on the plane in the armed forces of other countries, but not ours. If this info is in the C170 Book that I have not (yet) purchased, then Gahorn will surely tell me to "buy the book", which sounds like a good idea.

[rudymantel]

I know for a fact that the Guatemalan Air Force had at least one 170.
They wrecked it and the gentleman I went to work for rebuilt it for them. In return, they gave him a treasure trove: two Ryan STM's - like the civilian STA's, with Menasco engines, but the military single-seat version, and three Waco VPF-7's - military versions of the UPF but single seaters. All five airplanes brand new and in their original crates !
Sadly, he sold them off back in the 60's, for a small fraction of what they would fetch today.
Rudy

[4-Shipp]

In the mid 50's, Cessna did some military testing in boundry layer control using the 170 but that testing was done for the Navy, not the AF. None of the info I have indicates the planes were owned or operated by the Navy nor did they recieve Navy designations. I believe they were all civilian registered and operated by Cessna.

Bruce

[aoresteen]

What about the O-1 Bird Dog? I thought the military bought a bunch of these and that they were Cessna 170's?

[3958v]

If you were not concerned with the purchase price, cost of maintance or fuel costs you probably would not buy a 170. Most of us are concerned with all three so we bought them. Bill K.

[4-Shipp]

Aoresteen,

Actually, Cessna built the 170A and then they built the Bird Dog using the same round tail as the 170A. After seeing the great performance of the 0-1 using the big flaps, they decided to make available the same performance into the 170 line and the B model was born.

Bruce

[blueldr]

No one should get the idea that the flaps on the L-19/O-1 are the same as on the C-170B model. The B model, as all other Cessna aircraft produced after about 1952, has the flaps mounted on a track. The L-19/O-1 has them pivoted on a mount that protrudes well below the lower surface of the wing. very similar to a Super Cub or a Husky.

[kmisegades]

Thanks to all who responded. These confirm the results of my reviewing all my airplane books and Googling for C-170s in military garb - the US has never carried a single C-170 in its inventory. The fact that the O-1 is based on our plane says a lot about its rugged construction. Everytime I watch the Military Channel's broadcast regarding Vietnam FACs, featuring Birddogs in steep dives and wing-overs, I cringe to think what these would do to my '52 C-170B. I enjoy aerobatics, but only in a plane built for them. Any former FAC Birddog pilots out there from care to comment?