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* 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47B |url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198091/north-american-o-47b |website=National Museum of the US Air Force |accessdate=30 July 2018 |date=7 April 2015}}</ref>
* 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47B |url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198091/north-american-o-47b |website=National Museum of the US Air Force |accessdate=30 July 2018 |date=7 April 2015}}</ref>
* 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47A |url=http://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/north-american-o-47a |website=National Air and Space Museum |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="Goodall">{{cite web |last1=Goodall |first1=Geoffrey |title=NORTH AMERICAN O-47 |url=http://www.goodall.com.au/warbirds-directory-v6/north-american.pdf |website=Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site |publisher=Geoffrey Goodall |accessdate=30 July 2018 |date=14 June 2018}}</ref>
* 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47A |url=http://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/north-american-o-47a |website=National Air and Space Museum |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="Goodall">{{cite web |last1=Goodall |first1=Geoffrey |title=NORTH AMERICAN O-47 |url=http://www.goodall.com.au/warbirds-directory-v6/north-american.pdf |website=Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site |publisher=Geoffrey Goodall |accessdate=30 July 2018 |date=14 June 2018}}</ref>
* 38-284 – O-47A under restoration at the [[Planes of Fame]] Air Museum in [[Chino, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Restoration Projects |url=http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=restoration-projects |website=Planes of Fame |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=July 2018}}
* Composite – O-47A under restoration at the [[Planes of Fame]] Air Museum in [[Chino, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Restoration Projects |url=http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=restoration-projects |website=Planes of Fame |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref> It is made up of serial numbers 38-284 and 38-295.<ref name="Goodall" />
* 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47B (FAA Reg. No. N73716) |url=http://www.combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/namerican047b.html |website=Combat Air Museum |publisher=Combat Air Museum |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N73716] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N73716 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=North American O-47B (FAA Reg. No. N73716) |url=http://www.combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/namerican047b.html |website=Combat Air Museum |publisher=Combat Air Museum |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N73716] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N73716 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |accessdate=30 July 2018}}</ref>



Revision as of 20:16, 30 July 2018

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

The North American O-47 is an American observation fixed-wing aircraft monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps. It had a low-wing configuration, retractable landing gear, and a three-blade propeller.

Design and development

A "red force" O-47B during maneuvers in 1941.

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, 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]

Operational history

Training maneuvers in 1941 demonstrated the shortcomings of the O-47. Light airplanes 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]

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, 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]

Operators

 United States

Surviving Aircraft

O-47B at Wright-Patterson National Museum of the USAF

Specifications (O-47A)

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: three (pilot, copilot-observer, gunner)

Performance 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

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
Citations
  1. ^ a b c "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
  2. ^ Eden and Moeng 2002, pp. 74–77.
  3. ^ a b c Swanborough and Bowers 1964
  4. ^ "North American O-47B". National Museum of the US Air Force. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  5. ^ "North American O-47A". National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. ^ a b Goodall, Geoffrey (14 June 2018). "NORTH AMERICAN O-47" (PDF). Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site. Geoffrey Goodall. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Restoration Projects". Planes of Fame. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. ^ "North American O-47B (FAA Reg. No. N73716)". Combat Air Museum. Combat Air Museum. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N73716]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
Bibliography
  • Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
  • Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946.
  • Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. New York: Putnam New York, 1964. ISBN 0-85177-816-X.