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The 'Douglas O-2' is a 1920s American observation aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company.

Contents

Development

Variants

Specifications (0-2)

References

Development

The important family of Douglas observation aircraft sprang from two 'XO-2' prototypes, the first of which was powered by the 420-hp (313 kW) Liberty V-1650-1 Vee engine and test-flown in the autumn of 1924. The second XO-2 was powered by the 510-hp (380 kW) Packard 1A-1500 Vee engine, which proved unreliable. The US Army ordered 45 0-2 production aircraft in 1925, these retaining the XO-2's welded steel tube fuselage, wooden wings and overall fabric covering but at the same time introducing aluminium panels on the forward fuselage. The XO-2 had been flown with short and long-span wings, the latter giving improved handling and therefore being specified for the production aircraft. The fixed tailskid landing gear included a main unit of the divided type, the horizontal tail surface was strut braced, and the engine was cooled by a tunnel radiator^[1].
The 0-2 proved to be a conventional but very reliable biplane which soon attracted orders for 25 more aircraft: 18 '0-2A' machines equipped for night flying and six '0-2B' dual-control command aircraft for the US Army, plus one civil '0-2BS' modified specially for James McKee, who made a remarkable solo transCanada flight in September 1926. In 1927 the O-2BS was adapted as a threeseater with a radial engine^[1].
The 'O-2Hs' were an entirely new design but continued the same basic model number. Major differences were heavily staggered wings, a more compact engine installation, and clean landing gear secured to the fuselage^[3].

Variants

'O-2' - Initial production model - 45 built^[1].
'O-2A' - O-2 with night flying equipment - 18 built^[1].
'O-2B' - Dual control version of O-2 - six built^[1].
'O-2C:' These differed from the 0-2 in having frontal radiators for their Liberty engines and modified oleo-strut landing gear. The USAAC took delivery of 19 aircraft, while the remaining 27 went to reserve National Guard units - 32 built and one conversion from O-9^[1].
'O-2D:' Unarmed staff transport versions of the 0-2C - two built^[1].
'O-2E:' A one-off aircraft which replaced the wire link between upper and lower wing ailerons of production aircraft by rigid struts^[1].
'O-2H:' The fuselage was redesigned and a new tailplane was fitted, with staggered wings of unequal span. The O-2H incorporated the rigid-strut aileron interconnections of the 0-2E. An improved split-axle landing gear was standard. The USAAC received 90 O-2Hs between 1928 and 1930, and the National Guard a further 50 - 141 built^[1].
'O-2J:' Unarmed dual control version of the 0-2H for service as USAAC staff transports - three built^[1].
'O-2K/BT-1:' A slightly modified version of the O2J for US Army staff transport and liaison duties. Total production was 37 for the USAAC and 20 for the National Guard - 59 built^[1].
'O-2M' series: various export versions of O-2 that saw services with Republic of China Air Force. These aircraft were used as scout-bombers by the Chinese in the Second Sino-Japanese War with somewhat limited success against Japanese ground targets.
'XO-6:' Five all-metal O-2s, built in the mid-1920s by [Thomas-Morse]^[1].
'XO-6B:' Radically altered (smaller and lighter) version of the XO-6 - one built^[1].
'O-7:' Three 0-2s with the 510-hp (380 kW) Packard 2A-1500 direct-drive engine. Two were later converted to 0-2 standards, and one to the O-2C standard^[1].
'O-8:' One aircraft with the 400-hp (298 kW) Curtiss R-1454 radial engine instead of the intended Packard inverted-Vee engine. It later became an 0-2A^[1].
'O-9:' One aircraft with the 500-hp (373 kW) Packard 3A-1500 geared engine. It resembled the 0-7 but had a four rather than two bladed propeller. It later became an O-2A^[1].
'XO-14:' One reduced-scale version of an 0-2H, with a 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5 engine^[3], and the first Douglas aircraft with wheel brakes^[1].
'XA-2:' The 46th aircraft of the original 0-2 contract was completed as an attack machine with the powerplant of one 420-hp (313 kW) V-1410 Liberty inverted-Vee engine, and with a total of eight machine-guns (two in the engine cowling, two each in the upper and lower wings, and two on a ring-mounting operated by the observer). It was remarkably well armed for its day, and competed against the Curtiss A-3 in 1926 but was not selected for production^[1].
'OD-1:' Two O-2Cs for service with the US Marine Corps from 1929^[1].
'O-22:' Three identical to 'O-2H' except for the installation of a swept-back upper wing and a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine^[3].
'O-25:' One late-type O-2H airframe with a Curtiss Conqueror engine, and a revised nose^[3].
'O-25A:' Forty-nine production versions of the O-25^[3].
'Y1O-29:' Later designated 'O-29A:' was an O-2K fitted with a Wright R-1750 Cyclone engine^[3].
'O-32/BT-2:' Pratt & Whitney R-1340-3 Wasp engine, most later fitted with anti-drag rings^[3].

★ One 'O-32/BT-2'

★ 30 'O-32A/BT-2A'

★ 146 'BT-2B'

★ 20 'BT-2C'
'O-34:' The last 'O-22' with a Curtiss Conqueror engine^[3].
'O-38:' See Douglas O-38

Specifications (0-2)

References

1. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
2. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
3. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
4. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
5. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
6. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
7. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
8. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
9. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
10. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
11. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
12. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
13. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
14. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
15. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
16. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
17. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
18. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
19. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
20. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
21. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
22. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
23. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
24. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
25. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
26. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
27. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.