Curtiss O-52 Owl
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johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
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johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
The Curtiss O-52 "Owl" was an observation aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps before and during World War II.
Wingspan: 12 m
Introduced: 1940
First flight: 1940
Unit cost: $31,000
General characteristics
Wingspan: 12 m
Introduced: 1940
First flight: 1940
Unit cost: $31,000
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 26 ft 4.25 in (8.0328 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m)
- Height: 9 ft 11.5 in (3.035 m)
- Wing area: 210 sq ft (20 m2)
- Empty weight: 4,231 lb (1,919 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,364 lb (2,433 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-51 Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed metal propeller
- Maximum speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 kn)
- Cruise speed: 192 mph (309 km/h, 167 kn) at 75% power
- Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
- Guns: 1 × fixed forward-firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun and 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine-gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit
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johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
that's a new one for me, kinda like the biplane helldiver that's lost its bottom wing !
great stuff
great stuff
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Johnbr,
I was very fortunate enough to come across a strange looking aircraft while touring around the Yankee Air Museum in Chino, California. I often take it upon myself to hang out at different airfields with my camera ready whenever possible. As luck would have it, I came across a Curtiss O-52 Owl sitting inside a hangar. Since no one else were around, I Snuck inside the hangar & took dozens upon dozens of Detailed photos both inside & out. The majority were of b+w since digital cameras didn't exist in those days. What may not be known, is the front seat can swivel around. I could provide a few if anyone is interested. But suffice to say it was painted in olive drab. Years later, while visiting the Nat'l Museum of the U.S. Air Force, I saw another O-52 suspended from the ceiling and took a few shots from below. Could this have been the same one?
I was very fortunate enough to come across a strange looking aircraft while touring around the Yankee Air Museum in Chino, California. I often take it upon myself to hang out at different airfields with my camera ready whenever possible. As luck would have it, I came across a Curtiss O-52 Owl sitting inside a hangar. Since no one else were around, I Snuck inside the hangar & took dozens upon dozens of Detailed photos both inside & out. The majority were of b+w since digital cameras didn't exist in those days. What may not be known, is the front seat can swivel around. I could provide a few if anyone is interested. But suffice to say it was painted in olive drab. Years later, while visiting the Nat'l Museum of the U.S. Air Force, I saw another O-52 suspended from the ceiling and took a few shots from below. Could this have been the same one?
syscom3
Pacific Historian
(deleted)
syscom3
Pacific Historian
(deleted)
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
I noted the altimeter on the main instrument panel to read 800 feet above sea level. I'm wondering if that's factoring the suspension from the ceiling...:0). Perhaps it's true altitude is closer to 785 feet prior to it being elevated?
Please post away!
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Just give me a little bit of time to go through my files & I'll be honored to post some pictures of tge O-52 of interest. Thanks
syscom3
Pacific Historian
This is the O-52 Owl at the Pima air museum.
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Capt. Vic, Syscom, and gentlemen,
I manged to dig out my old files on the O-52 I described. I think you will all find this delightfully entertaining. Judging from the tail numbers, it appears they're two different aircraft as from the one displayed at the Pima Air Museum. I'm going to post what is sometimes referred to as a "Baker's Dozen." I have dozens more, but I think the enclosed photos will capture the swivel chair I mentioned previously and the "personality" of the aircraft.. I'm going to break this up in to two separate postings to help spread the photos. I trust that everyone will enjoy!!
I manged to dig out my old files on the O-52 I described. I think you will all find this delightfully entertaining. Judging from the tail numbers, it appears they're two different aircraft as from the one displayed at the Pima Air Museum. I'm going to post what is sometimes referred to as a "Baker's Dozen." I have dozens more, but I think the enclosed photos will capture the swivel chair I mentioned previously and the "personality" of the aircraft.. I'm going to break this up in to two separate postings to help spread the photos. I trust that everyone will enjoy!!
Attachments
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Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Yes, yes, yes!
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Capt. Vic & fellow members,
Glad you enjoyed it. It feels good to share something that everyone enjoys.
Glad you enjoyed it. It feels good to share something that everyone enjoys.
)
Skyediamonds
Staff Sergeant
- 1,268
- May 26, 2018
Actually there's a guy rebuilding an R/C model of the Curtiss O-52. From the photos I've seen on his build thread, the model looks very realistic & built to scale. I believe this model was originally built from a set of plans.
It was agreed among fellow modelers including the builder, that the main challenge will be having a retracting gear. From what is being said, the gear is not the same size as those commercially available for use on the popular Grumman Wildcat R/C kits often seen. This means he'll have to have it customized, if he wants scale retracts & they can be very pricey. So he still has a ways to go before it's considered complete let alone airworthy.
I used the term: "rebuilding" because he obtained it from another fellow modeler who crashed it. How it was damaged was not presented in the build thread or how much scale detailing went into the model is also not known.
However, unusual or rare aircraft are normally not produced in kit form (regardless of scale, plastic, mixed media, or wood). Markets just doesn't justify the enormous costs involved in laying out the molds & producing even a limited run kit.
I'm sure everyone on this site could come up with several aircraft that have not been kitted. Just the way market forces flow. I could name a few I'd personally would love to see in kits.
It was agreed among fellow modelers including the builder, that the main challenge will be having a retracting gear. From what is being said, the gear is not the same size as those commercially available for use on the popular Grumman Wildcat R/C kits often seen. This means he'll have to have it customized, if he wants scale retracts & they can be very pricey. So he still has a ways to go before it's considered complete let alone airworthy.
I used the term: "rebuilding" because he obtained it from another fellow modeler who crashed it. How it was damaged was not presented in the build thread or how much scale detailing went into the model is also not known.
However, unusual or rare aircraft are normally not produced in kit form (regardless of scale, plastic, mixed media, or wood). Markets just doesn't justify the enormous costs involved in laying out the molds & producing even a limited run kit.
I'm sure everyone on this site could come up with several aircraft that have not been kitted. Just the way market forces flow. I could name a few I'd personally would love to see in kits.
That Owl looks vaguely like a Curtiss SBC Helldiver. I guess it'd take quite a lot of effort to convert the old Matchbox SBC kit to one.
