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Cessna O-2A 'Skymaster'

Description
Notes: HIGH-WING monoplane with twin tail booms, aft pusher and forward puller engines and retractable landing gear. Used for forward air control mission (2 CREW) .
  Manufacturer:Cessna
  Base model:O-2
  Designation:O-2
  Version:A
  Nickname:Skymaster
  Designation System:U.S. Tri-Service
  Designation Period:1962-Present
  Basic role:Observation

Specifications
  Length: 29' 9" 9.0 m
  Height:9' 2" 2.7 m
  Wingspan: 38' 2" 11.6 m
  Wingarea: 202.5 sq ft 18.8 sq m
  Empty Weight: 2,705 lb 1,226 kg
  Gross Weight: 4,630 lb 2,099 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 2
  Powerplant: Continental IO-360
  Horsepower (each): 210

Performance
  Range: 780 miles 1,256 km
  Cruise Speed: 196 mph 315 km/h 170 kt
  Max Speed: 206 mph 331 km/h 178 kt
  Ceiling: 19,300 ft 5,882 m

Known serial numbers
25-387 / 25-404, 67-21295 / 67-21439, 68-6857 / 68-6903, 68-10828 / 68-10872, 68-10962 / 68-11070, 68-11122 / 68-11173 , 69-7601 / 69-7669 , 721300 , 721310 , 721318 , 721349 , 721365 , 721404 , 721414

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
Air Mobility Command MuseumDover AFBDelaware
Air Power Park and MuseumHamptonVirginia
Castle Air MuseumAtwaterCalifornia
Chanute Display CenterChanute AFBIllinois
Confederate Air Force - Arizona WingMesaArizona
Dyess Linear Air ParkDyess AFBTexas
Illinois ANG - 182nd AG, PeoriaPeoriaIllinois
Kelly Field Heritage MuseumKelly AFBTexas
Lone Star Flight MuseumGalvestonTexas
Museum of AviationWarner Robins AFBGeorgia
New York ANG - 105th AG, NewburghNewburghNew York
Ohio ANG - 121st ARW, Rickenbacker ANGBColumbusOhio
Pima Air & Space MuseumTucsonArizona
Selfridge Military Air MuseumSelfridge ANG BasMichigan
Shaw AFBShaw AFBSouth Carolina
South Dakota Air and Space MuseumEllsworth AFBSouth Dakota
Travis Air Force MuseumTravis AFBCalifornia
USAF Armament MuseumEglin AFBFlorida
USAF History and Traditions MuseumSan AntonioTexas
United States Air Force MuseumWright-PattersonOhio
Valiant Air Command MuseumTitusvilleFlorida

O-2A on display

Air Mobility Command Museum

Castle Air Museum

Chanute Display Center

Confederate Air Force - Arizona Wing

Dyess Linear Air Park

Lone Star Flight Museum

Museum of Aviation

Pima Air & Space Museum

Shaw AFB

Travis Air Force Museum

USAF Armament Museum

Valiant Air Command Museum
 


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Harry Brodock
 , CA
On my second tour in SEA, I put in 200 plus missions in the O-2A (and the O-2B). Was all over the place, from IV Corp to Tan Son Nhut to Hue to Quang Tri (during Lam Son 919/720), and on to Cambodia and Laos. First exposure to the bird was doing consulting to the group trying to get the 365 birds to SEA. They figured that it woiuld take too long to cuccoon spray them, put them on ships, unload and de-cuccoon them in Viet Nam. So they decided to fly them over. They took off from March AFB to Hickam, HI (a 24 hour flight), then to Johnson, Wake, Guam, Phillipines, and into Viet Nam.
Civilians flew the aircraft, and I'm GLAD. Max Gross on the O-2A was 4000 Lbs. As a FAC bird, we took off at 4400, but if there was trouble on the runway, we could eject the twin 2.75 rocket pods to get below 4000.
The trans-ocean birds had everything removed that was unnecessary, and a fuel bladder was put in place of the back seat, and a small half-tank where the right seat usually was. Takeoff gross was 7200 lbs out of March, and took almost all of that 12,000 ft of concrete. Once airborne, they figured that they could fly for six hours before they were single-engine capable.
They went in 5 ship loose formation with a C-130 mothership overhead. All of them made it from California to Viet Nam.
08/29/2008 @ 10:22 [ref: 22578]
 Mike Samuel
 , ON
Does anyone know were I can get a full scale replica built out of good quality plywood and fiberglass etc?
08/10/2008 @ 15:53 [ref: 22418]
 Mark Aragon
 Chicago, IL
I am in the market for an O-2A. I have already looked at one that is for sale and I am interested in others to make the best deal and get the best aircraft for the money. Please contact me at aragon@usaaf.com if you have an 0-2A available for sale.
08/03/2008 @ 17:21 [ref: 22346]
 Craig Clary
 Hemet, CA
I am currently looking for anyone whom was ground crew or air crew for O-2A Skymaster s/n 68-11067, if your out there please get in touch with me, your old plane is currently at the Hemet Ryan Air Field with a CDF paint scheme on it ans is currently in the restoration proces.
04/13/2008 @ 15:27 [ref: 20536]
 Joel Woodruff
 Missoula, MT
If anyone knows of a museum or individual that would like the honor of owning an O-2A (68-10857) with all of the original military equipment (including hard points on the wings) that is in spectactular condition, please send me an email. It is in flying condition with original air force paint scheme.
04/10/2008 @ 12:00 [ref: 20414]
 Douglas Schaffer
 Dayton, OH
I am with a unit of the CAF. We are the "Wright Stuff Squadron" near Dayton, Ohio. We are currently working to get the O-2A from CAF Headquarters in Midland, TX. We hope to get it back to it's full glory!!!

We would love to hear from anyone who might have special memories (or photos) of an O-2 in service.

Thanks,
Respectfully,
Doug

DouglasSchaffer@hotmail.com
03/05/2008 @ 10:23 [ref: 19868]
 jim mcclain
 ft myers/pensacola, FL
1. I am currently crew chief/right seater for several O-2 owners.
2. I am also retired USAF aircrew (MC130)loadmaster and pilot. I am doing a photo book and history on the bird and would like to hear from anyone who has experiences, photos, etc. to contribute for the first and subsequent volumes.
3. Email me directly and I will see what I can use.
Thanks.
02/07/2008 @ 06:29 [ref: 19587]
 Naturile
 , NC
I was stationed at Shaw AFB in 1969 @ the 363 FMS I think Hanger 1200.That is when the 704th TASS was formed. They asked airmen to transfer. I went. That is when the first O-2A's were brought in. I remember a few tail #s. I was assigned as crew chief on two birds, 69-7603 and 69-7605. The comander flew 69-7617. They were a great bunch of guys in the 704th. I loved Sumter and Shaw. In 1971 I was re-assigned to Da Nang with the 20th TASS. The O-2A I was to crew, was 68-7681. It looked wore out then, but it flew well. When I came back to the states, I went back to Shaw and the 704th. Later on, my old aircraft 68-681 came there too. We put Snoppy on the left front engine cawl. We also painted the tail caps red or blue, depending on which flight they were in. Those birds would still be good in service today. Thanks for the memories.

ps some other tail #s were: 69-7615, 69-7611, 69-7613.
01/18/2008 @ 19:03 [ref: 19353]
 Jim Hood
 Kenyon, MN
I was at Shaw AFB from 84-88 and worked on the 02 until they were phased out and replaced temperarily with T37's. What a fun time that was. Dave, your name rings a bell. Did we go to Nellis together? My bird was 97651, if I remember correctly.
12/31/2007 @ 06:36 [ref: 19098]
 NATE
 , FL
What a great bird to work on. Form Holley Field Fla to Viet Nam to Hurlburt Fl to Patrick AFB. Fl.
21 TASS , 549th
12/23/2007 @ 17:54 [ref: 19027]

 

Recent photos uploaded by our visitors