The Lockheed YO-3 Quiet Star is an American single-engined, propeller-driven aircraft that was developed for battlefield observation during the Vietnam War.
Designed to be as quiet as possible, it was intended to observe troop movements in near-silence during the hours of darkness.
Variants
QT-1 Quiet Thruster
Proposed single-seat powered glider based on the Schweizer SGS 2-32, not built.
QT-2
Two modified Schweizer X-26 two-seat sailplanes for evaluation, later modified with sensor packages as the QT-2PC.
QT-2PC PRIZE CREW
Two QT-2s with combat sensor packages for evaluation in Vietnam theatre, one reduced to spares and the other returned to the United States Navy as the Schweizer X-26B.
Q-Star
Modified Schweizer SGS 2-32 for engine/propeller development.
YO-3A
Production aircraft for the United States Army, 11 built.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
Wingspan
57 ft (17 m)
Wing area
213.1 sq ft (19.80 m2)
Aspect ratio
1:7 at 80kts IAS
Max take-off weight
3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Continental Model No. I0-360D engine , 210 hp (156 kW) at 2800 rpm