North American O-47
| North American O-47 | |
|---|---|
 North American O-47B |
|
| Type: | Reconnaissance plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
November 1935 |
| Production time: |
1936 to 1939 |
| Number of pieces: |
239 |
The North American O-47 was a reconnaissance aircraft of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) of the 1938th
The O-47 was designed as the successor to the Thomas-Morse O-19 and Douglas O-38 biplane reconnaissance aircraft. It was a low-wing aircraft with a crew of three who sat under a long canopy. Viewing windows were built into the lower fuselage to facilitate ground observation and photography.
history
The prototype XO-47 was designed in 1934 by General Aviation, a forerunner of North American Aviation as the GA-15 . The GA-15 flew for the first time in mid-1935. The USAAC ordered 174 O-47A machines in 1937 and 1938, 93 of which were intended for the National Guard . In 1938 the US Army ordered a further 74 O-47B machines with a new 1,060 hp (790 kW) Wright R-1820 radial engine and improved radio equipment.
Training maneuvers, however, showed the weaknesses of the O-47. Lighter aircraft were better suited to operations with ground forces. Fighters and twin-engine bombers showed better photo reconnaissance properties. The O-47 was used as a training aircraft and target display aircraft for the coast guard and for submarine hunting during World War II .
variants
- XO-47 (GA-15)
- Prototype with 862 PS (624 kW) Wright Cyclone radial engine
- O-47A (NA-25)
- 989 hp (727 kW) Wright-R-1820-49 cyclone radial engine, lower glazing of the lower fuselage, 164 were built.
- O-47B (NA-51)
- 1,060 hp (790 kW) Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine, increased tank capacity, 74 were built.
Museum aircraft
Technical specifications
| Parameter | O-47B |
|---|---|
| length | 10.1 m |
| span | 14.1 m |
| Wing area | 32.5 m² |
| height | 3.81 m |
| drive | 1 × Wright R-1820 -Cyclone radial engine with 1060 HP |
| Top speed | 365 km / h |
| Range | 1352 km |
| crew | 3 |
| Service ceiling | 7346 m |
| Empty mass | 2712 kg |
| Flight mass | 3,463 kg |
| Armament | one 7.62-mm fixed MG in the front, one 7.62-mm movable MG in the fuselage |
