THE NAVION

Designed at the end of the Second World War by the manufacturer “North American Aviation”, the manufacturer of the famous P-51 Mustang. The Navion has, among other things, aroused the interest of the US Army Air Forces. They were used as liaison aircraft in Korea, as a means of transporting personnel and cargo, and as training aircraft for the flight training program.

The Navion was designed to meet the expected demand for a four-passenger military type aircraft for those seeking an aircraft with the heritage of the P-51 Mustang. North American Aviation had the skills, production lines and personnel to meet this demand in 1945.

The Navion HB-ESB arrived in Switzerland in 1957 from Germany. It was first operated by the Fribourg Flying Club for a few years. It was then sold to a private individual who had based this aircraft at the airfield of La Chaux-de-Fond and then to my father and his friends. Since 1962, it is based in colombier (NE), and it flew regularly for the pleasure of our eyes and ears.

NAVION L-17A SPECIFICATIONS

1-2 Crew

3 Passengers

1 Piston Engine

Engine Continental E185-3

Engine Power 153 kW / 205 hp

Max Speed 263 km/h / 142 kts / 163 mph

Service Ceiling 4.572 m / 15.000 ft

Range 1.128 km / 609 NM / 701 mi.

Empty Weight 830 kg / 1.830 lbs

Max. Takeoff Weight 1.202 kg / 2.650 lbs

Wing Span 10,97 m / 35 ft 12 in

Wing Area 17,1 m² / 184 ft²

Length 7,87 m / 25 ft 10 in

Height 2,79 m / 9 ft 2 in

First Flight 04/1946

NAVION L-17A SPECIFICATIONS

1-2 Crew

3 Passengers

1 Piston Engine

Engine Continental E185-3

Engine Power 153 kW / 205 hp

Max Speed 263 km/h / 142 kts / 163 mph

Service Ceiling 4.572 m / 15.000 ft

Range 1.128 km / 609 NM / 701 mi.

Empty Weight 830 kg / 1.830 lbs

Max. Takeoff Weight 1.202 kg / 2.650 lbs

Wing Span 10,97 m / 35 ft 12 in

Wing Area 17,1 m² / 184 ft²

Length 7,87 m / 25 ft 10 in

Height 2,79 m / 9 ft 2 in

First Flight 04/1946

THE NAVION GOES TO WAR !

USED BY THE GENERAL MACARTHUR IN KOREA

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

AFTER WW II

After building thousands of P-51 Mustangs during World War II, North American Aviation entered commercial aviation with the Navion, which cost $10,000 to build but sold for only $7,000. They lost $8 million before the project was sold.

MILITARY AIRCRAFT

The Navion was built to meet US military standards. 

Navion engineers used a monocoque structure for the wings and fuselage, reducing weight and eliminating the possibility of hidden structural weaknesses with age. They may never have imagined how solid its construction is.

FACTORY

After building 1,100 of these planes, North American sold its rights in 1948 to Ryan of San Diego, the same Ryan who built the Spirit of St. Louis for Charles Lindbergh.