Chanute Air Museum

The O-2 Skymaster (also known as the "Oscar Deuce" or "The Duck") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster. 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-me pull-you" arrangement meant a simpler one-engine operating procedure compared to the common low-wing mounting of most twin engine light planes, and also allowed for a high wing, that was judged to be useful for clear observation below and behind the aircraft.

Two engines provided a definite advantage over the single engine O-1, but at heavy operating weights and high temperature conditions, O-2 performance with an engine out could be a dicey proposition (but still better than engine-out performance in the O-1!).   Because of the aerodynamics of a pusher propeller, the O-2 performed better on the rear engine alone than on the front one.

The unusual character of the Vietnam war with its many targets obscured by heavy jungle presented attack airplanes with target identification problems. The venerable Cessna L-19's were taking much damage from ground fire, and it became obvious that a faster twin-engine forward air control (FAC) air plane was needed. With its unsurpassed pilot's visibility, the C-337 became an immediate (and readily available) choice. The 0-2A was to be an observation aircraft with smoke rockets mounted on pylons on both wings for target marking.

The first O-2 flew in January 1967 and the plane went into production shortly thereafter, with the USAF taking delivery in March 1967. A total of 532 O-2s were built in two variants for the USAF by 1970. The O-2A served as a FAC aircraft, while the O-2B was equipped with loudspeakers and a leaflet dispenser for use in the psychological operations (PSYOPS) role. Several USAF O-2 aircraft were later transferred to and operated by the former VNAF South Vietnamese Air Force.

Specifications

General characteristics:

Crew:        2 - pilot and observer

Length:     29' 2"

Wingspan: 38'

Height:      9' 5"

Wing area: 202.5sqft

Weight:     2,848 lb

Max weight: 5,400 lb

Powerplant: 2× Continental IO-360C six-cylinder flat engines, 210 hp each

Performance:

Maximum speed:      200 kph (221mph)

Range:         1,325 nm (1,422 sm)

Ceiling         18,000 ft

Rate of climb: 1,180 ft/min

The O-2 on display flew in combat from December, 1967 to October, 1972. It was transferred to the Chanute Technical Training Center in January, 1983.

        REFERENCES

Fact Sheets: Cessna O-2A Skymaster: