O-2 Specifications

Manufacturer:
First Flight:
Wingspan:
Length:
Height:
Weight:
Max Speed:
Cruising Speed:
Range:
Ceiling:
Power Plant:

Crew:
Armament:




 Cessna Aircraft Company
 January 1967
 38 ft.
 29 ft., 9 in.
 9 ft., 2 in.
 2,848 lbs.(Empty),  5,400 lbs.(Loaded)
 200 mph
 144 mph
 1,325 miles
 18,000 ft.
 2 × Continental IO-360C six-cylinder
  engines, 210 hp each
 Two: Pilot, Observer
 Rockets, flares, 7.62mm mini-gun pods
  or other light ordnance hung on four
  wing pylons


The O-2 Skymaster (also known as the "Oscar Deuce" or "The Duck") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control (FAC) aircraft. The United States Air Force commissioned Cessna to build a military variant to replace the O-1 Bird Dog in 1966.

As with the civilian version, the Skymaster was a low-cost twin-engine piston-powered aircraft, with one engine in the nose of the aircraft and a second engine in the rear of the fuselage. The push-pull configuration meant a simpler single-engine operating procedure due to centerline thrust compared to the common low-wing mounting of most twin engine light planes, and also allowed for a high wing, providing clear observation below and behind the aircraft. During the Vietnam War, the Skymaster was intended to be replaced in the forward air control (FAC) mission by the OV-10 Bronco, but the O-2A maintained a night mission role after the OV-10's introduction due to the OV-10's high level of cockpit illumination, rendering night reconnaissance impractical. The O-2 was phased out completely after additional OV-10 night upgrades.   (Courtesy: Wikipedia)

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