The Douglas XO2D-1 was a prototype American observation floatplane developed in the 1930s.
It was designed as a single-engine biplane to be launched by aircraft catapult from ships of the United States Navy.
However, only one prototype was constructed, as the production contract was awarded to Curtiss for the SOC Seagull.
In 1933, the United States Navy sought to replace its Vought O3U Corsair as the standard aircraft catapult-launched observation aircraft aboard US Navy ships.
Consequently, it placed an order for a single example of a design from Douglas Aircraft Company, the XO2D-1, along with aircraft from Curtiss (the XO3C-1) and Vought (the XO5U-1).
The XO2D-1 was a single-engine biplane with single-bay wings of sesquiplane configuration that folded for shipboard storage.
It was constructed entirely of metal and featured an enclosed canopy that housed the crew of two in tandem.
The aircraft was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine and was fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage, whose twin mainwheels retracted into the single main float to facilitate easy operation from land.
The XO2D-1 underwent testing at Anacostia and Naval Air Station Norfolk and was first flown in March 1934.
However, it was ultimately rejected in favour of the Curtiss design, which was ordered into production as the SOC Seagull in March 1935.
Following further testing, the XO2D-1 was withdrawn from use on 13 September 1935.
Specifications
XO2D-1
Crew
2
Length
32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Wingspan
36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
Height
16 ft 4+1⁄2 in (4.991 m)
(Wheels down)
Wing area
302.8 sq ft (28.13 m2)
Empty weight
3,460 lb (1,569 kg)
Gross weight
5,109 lb (2,317 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12,
9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine,
550 hp (410 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed
141 kn (162 mph, 261 km/h)
Range
693 nmi (798 mi, 1,284 km)
Service ceiling
14,300 ft (4,400 m)
Time to altitude
6 min to 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
Armament
Guns
1× forward firing
&
1× flexibly mounted .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns.
Bombs
2× 100 lb (45 kg) bombs.
Sources
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company 1st 75 Years Aviation Book-McDonnell Douglas.
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920, Volume 1-René J Francillon.
San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
