Engineering:Vought O5U
| O5U | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation floatplane |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Vought |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 8 May 1934 |
The Vought O5U was a 1930s prototype American observation floatplane to meet a United States Navy requirement for a catapult launched scouting aircraft. The contract was won by Curtiss who went on to produce the SOC Seagull; only one O5U was built.[1]
Development
The United States Navy contracted three companies to produce prototypes to meet a requirement for a catapult launched biplane, with a central float and folding wings. Douglas produced the XO2D-1, Curtiss the XO3C-1 and Vought the XO5U-1.
The XO5U-1 (serial number 9399) was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 piston engine[2] and first flew on the 8 May 1934.[1]
The contract was awarded to Curtiss and only one XO5U-1 was built. The Status of Naval Aircraft, dated June 1937, listed the XO5U-1 as assigned at Mustin Field at the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3] It crashed in May 1938.
Specifications (XO5U-1)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot, observer/gunner)
- Length: 32.5 ft 6 in (10.06 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 550 hp (410 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 155 mph (249 km/h, 135 kn)
- Service ceiling: 15,100 ft (4,600 m)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) fixed forward firing machine gun
- 1 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) flexible machine gun in rear cockpit
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Michael O'Leary (November 2002). "Heroic Seagull". Air Classics. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3901/is_200211/ai_n9150793/.
- ↑ Andrade 1979, p. 205
- ↑ Larkins, William T., "U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941 / U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959", Orion Books, a division of Crown Books, New York, 1988, Library of Congress card number 88-17753, ISBN 0-517-56920-5, page 202.
- ↑ Eckland, K.O.. "Vought". USA: Aerofiles.com. http://aerofiles.com/_vot.html.
- ↑ "Vought X05U-1". USA: Vought.org. https://www.vought.org/products/html/xo5u-1spec.html.
- Bibliography
- Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
Template:Vought aircraft Template:USN observation aircraft
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