1st Flight 1926
The Vought O2U Corsair was a 1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft.
Made by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy in 1927.
Powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine, it incorporated a steel-tube fuselage structure and a wood wing structure with fabric covering.
Many were seaplanes or amphibians.
Variants
XO-28
Single example taken on charge by the U.S. Army Air Corps for evaluation with serial 29-323, Wright Field Project Number P-547, powered by a 450 h.p. R-1340-C engine.
Destroyed in hangar fire at Wright Field, Ohio, 18 March 1930.
O2U-1
two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft for USN with interchangeable wheel/float landing gear and 28 aircraft for other customers. 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp engine
O2U-2
37 built, increased span and larger rudder
O2U-3
110 built (30 for export), revised wing rigging, redesigned tail surfaces and Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C engine
O2U-4
43 built (1 for export. Also seven civilian O2U were built), similar to O2U-3 but with equipment changes
O3U-1
87 built as observation seaplanes incorporating Grumman amphibious float
O3U-2
29 built, strengthened airframe, Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine
O3U-3
76 built, 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp engine.
O3U-4
65 built, Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet engine.
XO3U-5
test aircraft with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 engine
XO3U-6
test aircraft converted from O3U-3 with NACA cowling and enclosed cockpits
O3U-6
32 built, 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp and 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-18 Wasp engines
SU-1
Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U-2, 28 built
SU-2
Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U-4, 53 built
SU-3
Variant of the SU-2 with low-pressure tires, 20 built
XSU-4
SU-2 converted as a prototype SU-4 variant with a 600 hp R-1690-42 engine, later became an SU-4.
SU-4
SU-4 re-engine with a 600 hp R-1690-2 engine, 41 built
One United States Navy O2U-3 evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps.
Vought V-65B
Export version for Brazil – 36
Vought V-65C
Export version for Nationalist China
Vought V-65F
Export version for Argentine Navy
Vought V-66B
Export version for Brazil
Vought V-66E
Export version, one evaluated by the Royal Air Force
Vought V-66F
Export version for Brazil – 15, and Argentine Navy
Vought V-80F
Export version for Argentine Navy
Vought V-80P
Export version for Peruvian Air Force
Vought V-85G
Export version for Germany
Vought V-92C
Export version for Nationalist China
Vought V-93S
Export version of the O3U-6 for Thailand
Vought V-99M
Export version for Mexico
TNCA Corsario Azcárate
31 O2U-4A aircraft built under license in Mexico.
Vought AXV1
A single O2U supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for evaluation in 1929.
Specifications
Crew: Two
Capacity: 500 lb (227 kg)
Length: 27 ft 5.5 in (8.37 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Wing area: 337 sq ft (31.31 m2)
Empty weight: 3,312 lb (1,502 kg)
Max take-off weight: 4,765 lb (2,161 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet radial, 600 hp (447 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 167 mph (269 km/h, 145 kn) at sea level
Range: 680 mi (1,094 km, 591 nmi)
Service ceiling: 18,600 ft (5,670 m)
Power/mass: 0.13lb/hp (0.21 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 3x .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns, one forward firing in upper wing and two on a trainable mount in rear cockpit
Bombs: 4x 116 lb (53 kg) or 10 30 lb (14 kg) bombs under lower wings.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
