The North American Navion was a light aircraft designed in the mid 1940s for civil use. It was successful in that role and was also adopted for use by the United State military forces in a number of roles.

The North American Navion was designed by the same team that designed the North American P-51 Mustang.

It embodies a lot of the experience of designing that fighter into this light liaison aircraft. The prototype first flew in April 1946.

This aircraft was originally designed for civil use but its properties attracted the interest of the United States military so it was also ordered for the US Air Force where it was used for training, reconnaissance and carrying light cargo and personnel.

Both the US Navy and US Army also used the Navion. Over 2,600 were made and some remain flying today.

This model represents a North American L-17A Navion in service with the US Army’s 79th Infantry Division in Korea in 1951.

Valom 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in November 2022.