Vought O2U Corsair

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.

Two prototypes were ordered in 1926 and tested by the Navy Trial Board before the first production batches were ordered.

In 1927, a total of 291 O2Us were produced.

The O2U-2, -3 and -4 were ordered in 1928 with minor changes.

By 1930 they were being superseded by the O3U which was basically similar to the O2U-4, one variant of which was fitted with the Grumman float and were manufactured until 1936.

A total of 289 were built.

Many of them had cowled engines and some had enclosed cockpits.

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

&

Two on a trainable mount in rear cockpit

Bombs

4 x 116 lb (53 kg) or 10 30 lb (14 kg) bombs under lower wings.