The Cessna 170 is a light, single-engine, general aviation aircraft that was produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company between 1948 and 1956.

Cessna 170
Beginning in late 1948, Cessna began selling the Cessna 170, with metal fuselage and tail and fabric covered wings. These earliest Cessna 170s were essentially four-seat versions of the popular Cessna 140 two-seater, equipped with a more powerful Continental O-300 145 hp engine and larger fuel tanks. Like the 140, they were constructed of metal with fabric-covered wings supported by a "V" strut.

Cessna 170A
In 1949 Cessna began marketing the Cessna 170A, an all-metal Cessna 170 with dihedral-less wings and a single strut, replacing the earlier "V" strut of the 170. The price was roughly $5,500. This and subsequent versions of the 170 shared the fin/rudder shape of the larger Cessna 190 and 195 models.

Cessna 305
In 1950, the United States Air Force, Army and Marines began using the military variant of the Cessna 170, designated by Cessna as the Model 305 and by the military as the L-19 and later O-1 Bird Dog. It was used as a forward air control and reconnaissance aircraft. The Bird Dog was extensively re-designed from the basic 170 and included a revised fuselage and wing with large modified-Fowler flaps that deploy up to 60°.

Cessna 170B
In 1952, the Cessna 170B was introduced featuring a new wing incorporating dihedral similar to the military version. The B model was equipped with very effective modified-Fowler (slotted, rearward-traveling) wing flaps which deflect up to 40° and a wing planform that lives on in the Cessna light singles of today (constant NACA 2412 section with a chord of 64 inches from centerline to 100 inches out, then tapering to 44 inch NACA 2412 section chord at 208 inches from centerline, with three-degree washout across the tapered section). The 170B model also included a new tailplane, a revised tailwheel, larger rear windows and other refinements over the 170 and 170A.
In 1955, the previously elliptical rear side windows were changed to a more square design.

Cessna 170 Succession
The Cessna 170 is equipped with conventional landing gear, which is more challenging to land than tricycle landing gear. In 1956 Cessna introduced a replacement for the Cessna 170 that was essentially a nose-wheel-equipped 170B with a square fin, designated the Cessna 172. The Cessna 172 went on to become the most produced aircraft of any type, ever, and Cessna 170 production was halted soon after the 172 was available.

Today
Over 5,000 Cessna 170s were built and over 2,000 are still in service today. Prized as vintage aircraft by their owners, many of the remaining 170s have been totally restored and are very well cared for.

Type Clubs
The Cessna 170 is supported by several Aircraft Type Clubs, including the The International Cessna 170 Association and the Cessna Pilots Association.