North American Navion ![]()
Designed by Edgar Schmued and Roy Liming, the NAvion embodied many design features of the parent P-51 Mustang, including the famed laminar-flow wing. It was priced at $7,750 which had risen to $8,990 in 1948. A large four seat all metal tourer with sliding canopy produced from 1947 to 1957.
The first 1109 were built by North American, including 47 to the USAF as L-17A (NA-154). With a market slump and increased production costs (planned selling price of $6,000 was a bit unrealistic in the face of a construction cost nearly $18,000), rights were sold in 1948 to Ryan Co, who used a lower-case "A" in the plane's name. Ryan Aircraft who built about a thousand more.
In 1948 the original 1946 model was upgraded from 185 hp to 205 hp. The Navion B of 1951 introduced 260 hp, and the 240 and 250-hp Continentals came out in 1958 and 1959 respectively.
Original L-17A was military version of civil NAvion (47-1297-1379) built by North American. When Ryan took over production, 158 more were ordered by U.S.A.F. as L-17B's. L-17C is L-17A modified by Ryan. Forty-seven L-17A went to National Guard units. All are 4-seat liaison aircraft powered by a 205 h,p. Continental O-470-3 engine. The US,A.F. transferred 170 L-17s to the Civil Air Patrol during 1954. Some were converted to QL-17 target drones.
![]() L-17B
Ryan produced more than 1000 Navion 205 during 1948-50.
The 1960 Rangemaster G-1 was a five-seat version of North American/Ryan Navion (N514H) first flying on 10 June 1960.
![]() Navion Rangemaster N2420T
![]() Ryan L-17 Navion
![]() Navion Rangemaster
The Navion Rangemaster has been in and out of production in the past, and its 1977 revival has at times seemed sur-rounded more by promises than produc-tion. Where the factory formerly sold Rangemasters direct, all selling will now be done by Two Jacks, of Olive Branch, Missis-sippi. Two Jacks has, in fact, obligated itself to accept 100 Navion Rangernasters, to be built during 1976-78.
Variantion: NA-145 NAvion
ATC 782
1946-47
Engine: Continental E-185, 185 hp
Wing span: 33'5"
Length: 27'8"
Useful load: 1016 lb
Max speed: 157 mph
Cruise speed147 mph
Stall: 54 mph
Range: 530 mi
Range with wing tanks: 980 mi
Ceiling: 15,000'
Seats: 4
No built: 1110
Ryan Navion 205
Engine: Continental E185-3, 205 hp
Cruise: 155 mph
ROC: 1050 fpm
Seats: 4
Navion H
1968
Engine: Continental IO-520-B, 285hp
Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in / 10.59 m
Length: 27'6" / 8.38 m
Empty weight: 1945 lb / 882 kg
MTOW: 3315 lb / 1504 kg
Useful load: 1370 lb
Max speed: 200 mph
Cruise speed: 163 kt / 188 mph / 302 kph
ROC SL: 375 fpm / 420 m /min
Service ceiling: 21,500 ft / 6550 m
Range max fuel: 1454 nm / 1675 mi / 2695 km
Seats: 5
Baggage capacity: 180 lb / 82 kg
Rangemaster G-1
Engine: Continental IO-470-H, 260hp
Wingspan: 34'9"
Length: 27'10"
Useful load: 1231 lb
Max speed: 192 mph
Cruise speed: 185 mph
Stall: 58 mph
Range: 1858 mi
Seats: 5
Navion Rangemaster Ryan Navion Super 260
Engine: Lycoming GO-435-C2, 260 hp
Produced 1950-51
Ryan L‑17B Navion
NA-154
Engine: 205 h,p. Continental O-470-3
Span: 33 ft. 41 in
Max Weight: 2,750 lb
Max. Speed: 163 mph
![]() Navion Rangemaster
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