1st Flight 1938
The Vought OS2U Kingfisher is an American catapult-launched observation floatplane.
It was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing floats.
Performance was modest because of its low-powered engine.
The OS2U could also operate on fixed, wheeled, tail dragger landing gear.
Variants
XOS2U-1
Prototype Vought Model VS.310 powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-4 engine, one built.
OS2U-1
Initial production variant as the prototype but powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-48, 54 built.
OS2U-2
Production variant with minor equipment changes and powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-50, 158 built.
OS2U-3
Based on the OS2U-2 with self-sealing fuel tanks, armour protection, two .30 cal (7.62 mm) guns (dorsal and nose mounted), and able to carry 325 lb (147 kg) of depth charges or 100 lb (45 kg) bombs, powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN2 engine, 1006 built.
OS2U-4
Two aircraft converted with narrow-chord and high-aspect ratio wings, also fitted with full-span flaps. Not developed.
OS2N-1
Naval Aircraft Factory built OS2U-3 with a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 or -AN-8 engine, 300 built.
Kingfisher I
British designation for the OS2U-3, 100 delivered to the Royal Navy.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 33 ft 7.2 in (10.241 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 10.7 in (10.940 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 261.9 sq ft (24.33 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23015; tip: NACA 23009
Empty weight: 3,335 lb (1,513 kg)
Gross weight: 4,980 lb (2,259 kg)
Max take-off weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Fuel capacity: 144 US gal (120 imp gal; 545 l) in an integral wing tank
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN2 Wasp Junior 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 450 hp (340 kW) for take-off
400 hp (298 kW) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 171 mph (275 km/h, 149 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
Cruise speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn) with 75% power at 6,000 ft (1,829 m)
Landing speed: 55 mph (48 kn; 89 km/h)
Range: 908 mi (1,461 km, 789 nmi) with 75% power at 6,000 ft (1,829 m)
Service ceiling: 18,200 ft (5,500 m)
Rate of climb: 960 ft/min (4.9 m/s) at 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
Wing loading: 19 lb/sq ft (93 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.13 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 1 × fixed, forward firing .30 in (7.62 mm)) M1919 Browning machine gun with 500 rounds and 1x .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine gun with 600 rounds, flexibly mounted for the observer.
Bombs: 650 lb (295 kg) of bombs.
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