The B17 (also known as the Saab-17) began life as a two-man reconnaissance aircraft for Sweden in the late 1930’s. However, the potential for its use as a bomber led to a reevaluation of the design, which did not enter service until early 1942. There were three primary types (A, B and C), each with a different power plant (American, British and Italian). Production was 325 of all versions, with 77 of the B17C being built.
The plane had two unusual features. So as to keep the wing as strong as possible, the main gear retracted backwards (from the front edge) and were covered with fairings; it was intended that they double as dive brakes. Also, the rear gunner/radio operator/navigator’s chair was able to slide most of the length of the large canopy, allowing him access to his various stations.
The B17C has a crew of two. The pilot fires the wing machineguns and drops the bombs. The observer operated the radio and fires the rear machinegun. The plane uses 34 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Light Fighter-Bomber chassis +3, Light Fighter-Bomber
Wings +3, three retractable wheels +1.
Powertrain: 761-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 761-kW prop
and 150-gallon self-sealing fuel tank [Wings].
Occupancy: 2 CS Cargo: 10.3 Body, 2.3 Wings
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| Body | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Wings | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Crew | +0/20 | +0/0 | +0/20 | +0/0 | +0/20 |
Weaponry
2¥Long Aircraft HMGs/13.2mm M/39A [Wings:F] (300 rounds each)*
Aircraft LMG/7.9mm M/22 [Body:B] (500 rounds)
1,100lb bomb [Body:U]
2¥200lb bombs [Wings:U]
* Link fires both HMGs at once
Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments,
autopilot., bombsight, 1,100-lb bomb bay. Wings: 200-lb hardpoint
each
Statistics
| Size: 32'x44'x14' | Payload: 2.11 tons | Lwt: 4.25 tons |
| Volume: 312 | Maint.: 43 hours | Price: $21,300 |
HT: 12.
HPs: 330 Body, 120 each Wing, 30 each Wheel.
| aSpeed: 270 | aAccel: 5 | aDecel: 20 | aMR: 5 | aSR: 2 | Stall: 72 mph |
Design Notes
The historical speed has been used (design speed was 255 mph), as well
as the actual wing area (306 square feet). Body HP, cost and weight were
doubled, to better match historical weight and performance.
Due to the unusual arrangements for the observer, most of the cargo space in the body should be ignored.
Variants
B17A (1942): This was powered by a 794-kW engine, with an aSpeed for
272 mph. The wing guns were 7.9mm M/22F’s (Aircraft LMGs) with 500 rounds
each. It lacked the wing hardpoints. 132 built.
B17B: This was powered by a 731-kW engine to an aSpeed of only 247 mph. The B17B I was the dive-bomber version and the B17B II was the level bomber version. 54 built.
S17BL: A camera-equipped version of the B17B. 65 built.
S17BS: These 38 planes (some converted from existing aircraft) were equipped with floats. The drag from the floats reduced aSpeed to 206 mph.
An unknown number of aircraft had their main landing gear replaced with skids, for operation from snow-covered fields.