The Douglas YOA-5 was an amphibious aircraft that was specifically designed for the United States Army Air Corps.
Despite the construction of a prototype, it did not proceed to the production stage.
In November 1932, the U.S. Army issued an order for the development of an amphibious reconnaissance aircraft/bomber.
This aircraft was intended to serve as a navigation leader and rescue aircraft for formations of conventional bombers.
The resulting aircraft, which was initially designated as the YB-11 bomber, was designed concurrently with the Douglas XP3D patrol flying boat for the United States Navy.
It was a high-winged monoplane that featured two Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engines mounted in individual nacelles above the wing.
Its appearance was reminiscent of an enlarged version of the Douglas Dolphin.
Prior to its completion, the aircraft was re-designated as the YO-44 observation aircraft and subsequently as the YOA-5 ‘observation amphibian model 5’.
It made its maiden flight in January 1935 and was delivered to the army in February of the same year.
However, the concept for which it was designed proved to be impractical, and no further production was undertaken.
However, the YOA-5 managed to establish two world distance records for amphibians prior to its eventual decommissioning in December of 1943. Specifications Crew 5–7 Length 69 ft 7.5 in (21.222 m) Wingspan 95 ft 0 in (28.96 m) Height 22 ft 5.25 in (6.8390 m) Wing area 1,295 sq ft (120.3 m2) Empty weight 15,120 lb (6,858 kg) Gross weight 22,909 lb (10,391 kg) Max take-off weight 27,946 lb (12,676 kg) Powerplant 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 900 hp (670 kW) each Propellers 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers Performance Maximum speed 183 mph (295 km/h, 159 kn) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) Range 2,050 mi (3,300 km, 1,780 nmi)3380 Service ceiling 18,900 ft (5,800 m) Time to altitude 5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 6 minutes 6 seconds Wing loading 17.7 lb/sq ft (86 kg/m2) Power/mass 0.0565 hp/lb (0.0929 kW/kg) Armament Guns 3× 0.30 in (7.6 mm) Browning machine guns in nose turret and hull hatches Bombs 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of 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.
