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Goodyear GA-17

1950 COLD WAR X-PLANE

History of the Goodyear GA-17

GA-17 is the project name assigned to the Goodyear Aircraft Design to meet the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) all-weather heavy fighter/night fighter requirements. Ultimately, the Northrop F-89 Scorpion design met that requirement, but still attracted several major industry players including Consolidated Vultee and Douglas.

The GA-17 came in second out of nine possible models submitted by Northrop.

In August 1945, details were drawn up for several new types of aircraft, including an all-weather heavy fighter with speeds approaching 550 mph, a range of up to 1,000 miles, and a rate of climb of about 3,000 feet per minute per hour. Night combat capability will also be an inherent role on the battlefield, suggesting the need to carry radar, which by default requires a crew of two (with the addition of a dedicated radar operator).

The GA-17 was equipped with three Westinghouse 24C turbojets, two at the root of the wing and the third buried in the fuselage, each with 3,000 pounds of thrust. The design was designed to run on just one of the engines, keeping all three as close to the center of the plane as possible. JATO (Jet Assisted Takeoff) can come in the form of two or four throwable rocket boosters to help the plane reach altitude in a short amount of time.

Advanced wing plans were used, heavily influenced by German aircraft data collected by the Americans at the end of World War II (1939-1945), which resulted in a very elegant looking aircraft with mixed wing roots, swept main aircraft and a single fin. A tricycle landing gear will be standard.

Two crew members sat side by side, the cockpit was mounted forward amidships, and the visibility from the cockpit was considered very good. All major stationary weapons are housed in a belly mounted bulge, these guns consist of 4 x 20mm guns.

The ventral mounts were radar controlled, allowing the guns to fire 15 degrees either side. The muzzle was also out of sight of the crew, which proved good quality in night shots (muzzle flash).

An additional pair of guns were placed aft of the vertical tail to accommodate any trailing interceptors, and the guns also had a 15-degree arc flexibility. The AN/APG-3 series radar accessories will guide these guns, and their mounting is on the vertical tail itself - resulting in significant structural exposure.

It is believed that if the GA-17 moves beyond the paper stage, missile and bomb delivery functions will also be incorporated into the design.

Like other proposals in the All-Weather Heavy Fighter Requirements, Goodyear's proposal was reviewed by U.S. Air Force authorities. The aircraft is assumed to have good all-around performance, but there are concerns about the complexity of its weapons and the piping required for the three engines.

The Northrop N. 24 (Type A) represented a better and more complete alternative that was worth developing, leaving the GA-17 to history.

The GA-17's performance includes a top speed of 610 mph and a service cap of 44,000 feet, according to estimates by Goodyear engineers.