The North American O-47 is an American observation fixed-wing aircraft monoplane designed in the mid-1930s and used by the United States Army Air Corps during the Second World War. It has a low-wing configuration, retractable landing gear, and a three-blade propeller.
The O-47 was developed as a replacement for the Thomas-Morse O-19 and Douglas O-38 observation biplanes. It was larger and heavier than most preceding observation aircraft and its crew of three sat in tandem under the long canopy. Windows in the deep belly overcame the obstacle that the wings presented to downward observation and photography. The design for the XO-47 prototype originated in 1934 with General Aviation Manufacturing, a subsidiary of North American Aviation, as the GA-15.[2] The Air Corps ordered 174 O-47s in 1937 to 1938, 93 of which were assigned to National Guard units. In 1938, the Army ordered 74 O-47Bs with a redesigned engine cowling for better cooling, an uprated engine, and improved radio equipment.[citation needed]
Operational historyedit
Training maneuvers in 1941 demonstrated the shortcomings of the O-47. Single-engined light airplanes like the Piper L-4 and Stinson L-5 proved more capable of operating with ground troops, while fighters and twin engine bombers showed greater ability to perform recon and photo duties. Thus, O-47s during World War II, except for those caught at overseas bases by the Japanese attacks, were relegated to secondary duties such as towing targets, coastal patrol, and anti-submarine patrol.[3]
Variantsedit
XO-47
one built, serial number 36-145 in Dundalk, Maryland, 850 hp (634 kW) Wright R-1820-41 engine[1]
O-47A
164 built in Inglewood California, 975 hp (727 kW) Wright R-1820-49 engine
O-47B
74 built, minor improvements and a 1,060 hp (790 kW) Wright R-1820-57 engine installed,[3] plus an extra 50 gallon fuel tank[1]
north, american, american, observation, fixed, wing, aircraft, monoplane, designed, 1930s, used, united, states, army, corps, during, second, world, wing, configuration, retractable, landing, gear, three, blade, propeller, national, museum, united, states, for. The North American O 47 is an American observation fixed wing aircraft monoplane designed in the mid 1930s and used by the United States Army Air Corps during the Second World War It has a low wing configuration retractable landing gear and a three blade propeller O 47 An O 47B at National Museum of the United States Air Force Role Observation Manufacturer North American Aviation First flight November 1935 Introduction 1937 Primary user United States Army Air Corps Number built 239 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Surviving aircraft 6 Specifications O 47A 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDesign and development edit nbsp A red force O 47B during maneuvers in 1941 The O 47 was developed as a replacement for the Thomas Morse O 19 and Douglas O 38 observation biplanes It was larger and heavier than most preceding observation aircraft and its crew of three sat in tandem under the long canopy Windows in the deep belly overcame the obstacle that the wings presented to downward observation and photography The design for the XO 47 prototype originated in 1934 with General Aviation Manufacturing a subsidiary of North American Aviation as the GA 15 2 The Air Corps ordered 174 O 47s in 1937 to 1938 93 of which were assigned to National Guard units In 1938 the Army ordered 74 O 47Bs with a redesigned engine cowling for better cooling an uprated engine and improved radio equipment citation needed Operational history editTraining maneuvers in 1941 demonstrated the shortcomings of the O 47 Single engined light airplanes like the Piper L 4 and Stinson L 5 proved more capable of operating with ground troops while fighters and twin engine bombers showed greater ability to perform recon and photo duties Thus O 47s during World War II except for those caught at overseas bases by the Japanese attacks were relegated to secondary duties such as towing targets coastal patrol and anti submarine patrol 3 Variants editXO 47 one built serial number 36 145 in Dundalk Maryland 850 hp 634 kW Wright R 1820 41 engine 1 O 47A 164 built in Inglewood California 975 hp 727 kW Wright R 1820 49 engine O 47B 74 built minor improvements and a 1 060 hp 790 kW Wright R 1820 57 engine installed 3 plus an extra 50 gallon fuel tank 1 Operators edit nbsp United States United States Army Air CorpsSurviving aircraft edit nbsp O 47B at Wright Patterson National Museum of the USAF 37 279 O 47A in storage at the Paul E Garber Preservation Restoration and Storage Facility of the National Air and Space Museum in Suitland Maryland 4 5 39 098 O 47B owned by James P Harker of Blaine Minnesota It was previously placed on loan to the Combat Air Museum in Topeka Kansas by its owner William A Dempsay but was sold as of June 2014 6 7 39 112 O 47B on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio It is displayed in the markings of an O 47A belonging to the 112th Observation Squadron of the Ohio National Guard It was acquired in 1978 from Loren L Florey Jr of Eden Prairie Minnesota and was restored by the 179th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Ohio Air National Guard Mansfield Ohio 8 Composite O 47A under restoration at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino California 9 It is made up of serial numbers 38 284 and 38 295 5 Specifications O 47A edit nbsp 3 view silhouette of the North American O 47 Data from United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 3 General characteristicsCrew three pilot copilot observer gunner Length 33 ft 7 in 10 24 m Wingspan 46 ft 4 in 14 1 m Height 12 ft 2 in 3 7 m Wing area 350 sq ft 32 5 m2 Empty weight 5 980 lb 2 712 5 kg Gross weight 7 636 lb 3 463 6 kg Powerplant 1 Wright R 1820 49 radial 975 hp 727 kW Performance Maximum speed 221 mph 355 7 km h 192 kn Cruise speed 200 mph 322 km h 170 kn Range 840 mi 1 352 km 730 nmi Service ceiling 23 200 ft 7 071 m Rate of climb 1 470 8 ft min 7 47 m s Armament 1 fixed forward firing 30 cal 7 62 mm machine gun 200 rounds in starboard wing 1 flexible 30 cal 7 62 mm machine gun 600 rounds in rear cockpitSee also edit nbsp Aviation portal Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Curtiss O 52 Owl Douglas O 38 Fieseler Fi 156 Storch Henschel Hs 126 Kokusai Ki 76 Levente II ones used in army co operation and liaison tasks Meridionali Ro 63 Thomas Morse O 19 Westland Lysander Related lists List of aircraft of World War IIReferences editNotes Citations a b c U S Army Aircraft 1908 1946 by James C Fahey 1946 64pp Eden and Moeng 2002 pp 74 77 a b c Swanborough and Bowers 1964 North American O 47A Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Archived from the original on 31 July 2018 Retrieved 30 July 2018 a b Goodall Geoffrey 14 June 2018 North American PDF Geoff Goodall s Aviation History Site Geoffrey Goodall Retrieved 30 July 2018 North American O 47B FAA Reg No N73716 Combat Air Museum Combat Air Museum Archived from the original on 12 August 2017 Retrieved 30 July 2018 FAA REGISTRY N73716 Federal Aviation Administration U S Department of Transportation Archived from the original on 30 July 2018 Retrieved 30 July 2018 North American O 47B National Museum of the US Air Force 7 April 2015 Retrieved 30 July 2018 Restoration Projects Planes of Fame Retrieved 30 July 2018 Bibliography Eden Paul and Soph Moeng The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft London Amber Books Ltd 2002 ISBN 0 7607 3432 1 Fahey James C U S Army Aircraft 1908 1946 New York Ships and Aircraft 1946 Swanborough F G and Peter M Bowers United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 New York Putnam New York 1964 ISBN 0 85177 816 X External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to North American O 47 Boeing O 47 Official site dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North American O 47 amp oldid 1178715858, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
