North American O-47

O-47
An O-47B at National Museum of the United States Air Force
General information
Type	Observation
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	239^[1]
History
Introduction date	1937
First flight	November 1935

Design and development

The O-47 was developed as a replacement for the Thomas-Morse O-19 and Douglas O-38 observation biplanes. It was larger and heavier than most preceding observation aircraft and its crew of three sat in tandem under the long canopy. Windows in the deep belly overcame the obstacle that the wings presented to downward observation and photography. The design for the XO-47 prototype originated in 1934 with General Aviation Manufacturing, a subsidiary of North American Aviation, as the GA-15.^[2] The Air Corps ordered 174 O-47s in 1937 to 1938, 93 of which were assigned to National Guard units. In 1938, the Army ordered 74 O-47Bs with a redesigned engine cowling for better cooling, an uprated engine, and improved radio equipment.^{[citation needed]}

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Operational history

Training maneuvers in 1941 demonstrated the shortcomings of the O-47. Single-engined light airplanes like the Piper L-4 and Stinson L-5 proved more capable of operating with ground troops, while fighters and twin engine bombers showed greater ability to perform recon and photo duties. Thus, O-47s during World War II, except for those caught at overseas bases by the Japanese attacks, were relegated to secondary duties such as towing targets, coastal patrol, and anti-submarine patrol.^[3]

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Variants

XO-47: one built, serial number 36-145 in Dundalk, Maryland, 850 hp (634 kW) Wright R-1820-41 engine^[1]
O-47A: 164 built in Inglewood California, 975 hp (727 kW) Wright R-1820-49 engine
O-47B: 74 built, minor improvements and a 1,060 hp (790 kW) Wright R-1820-57 engine installed,^[3] plus an extra 50 gallon fuel tank^[1]

Surviving aircraft

37-279 – O-47A in storage at the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility of the National Air and Space Museum in Suitland, Maryland.^[4]^[5]
39-098 – O-47B owned by James P. Harker of Blaine, Minnesota. It was previously placed on loan to the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas by its owner William A. Dempsay, but was sold as of June 2014.^[6]^[7]
39-112 – O-47B on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It is displayed in the markings of an O-47A belonging to the 112th Observation Squadron of the Ohio National Guard. It was acquired in 1978 from Loren L. Florey Jr., of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and was restored by the 179th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield, Ohio.^[8]
Composite – O-47A under restoration at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.^[9] It is made up of serial numbers 38-284 and 38-295.^[5]

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Specifications (O-47A)

Data from "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" ^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: three (pilot, copilot-observer, gunner)
Length: 33 ft 7 in (10.24 m)
Wingspan: 46 ft 4 in (14.1 m)
Height: 12 ft 2 in (3.7 m)
Wing area: 350 sq ft (32.5 m²)
Empty weight: 5,980 lb (2,712.5 kg)
Gross weight: 7,636 lb (3,463.6 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-49 radial, 975 hp (727 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 221 mph (355.7 km/h, 192 kn)
Cruise speed: 200 mph (322 km/h, 170 kn)
Range: 840 mi (1,352 km, 730 nmi)
Service ceiling: 23,200 ft (7,071 m)
Rate of climb: 1,470.8 ft/min (7.47 m/s)

Armament

1 × fixed forward-firing .30-cal (7.62 mm) machine gun (200 rounds) in starboard wing
1 × flexible .30-cal (7.62 mm) machine gun (600 rounds) in rear cockpit

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North American O-47

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Surviving aircraft

Specifications (O-47A)

See also

References

External links

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