Cessna O-2 Skymaster

Last updated

O-2 Skymaster
O-2 Skymaster-1 (cropped).jpg
O-2A Skymaster
Role Observation aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Cessna
First flightJanuary 1967
IntroductionMarch 1967
Retired2010 (United States)
StatusLimited service
Primary users United States Air Force (historical)
Botswana Air Force
Salvadoran Air Force
Produced1967–1975
Number built513
Developed from Cessna Skymaster

The Cessna O-2 Skymaster (nicknamed "Oscar Deuce") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, used for forward air control (FAC) and psychological operations (PSYOPS) by the US military between 1967 and 2010.

Contents

Design and development

The O-2 lacks the 337 propeller spinner 67-21300 Cessna O-2A Skymaster, pic2.JPG
The O-2 lacks the 337 propeller spinner

In 1966, the United States Air Force (USAF) commissioned Cessna to build a military variant of the Skymaster to replace the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog.

Both the civilian and military Skymasters were low-cost twin-engine piston-powered aircraft, with one engine in the nose of the aircraft and a second in the rear of the fuselage. The push-pull configuration provided centerline thrust, allowing simpler operation than the low-wing mounting of most twin-engine light aircraft, and allowed a high wing to be used, providing clear observation below and behind the aircraft.

Modifications made for the military configuration included fore-and-aft seating for a pilot and observer, instead of the six seats of the civilian version; installation of view panels in the doors (for improved ground observation); installation of flame-retardant foam in the wing-mounted fuel tanks (slightly increasing weight, and reducing maximum fuel capacity by 3%); installation of military, rather than civilian, communication and navigation equipment and antennas; removal of propeller spinners; increased gross weight (5,400 lb vs. 4,400 lb in civilian version), with component strengthening as required to support the increase; and removal of interior upholstery.

The first O-2 flew in January 1967, and the plane went into production shortly thereafter. Performance (especially at cruising altitudes) was degraded due to the added antennas and significant weight increase, but was considered sufficient for the anticipated low-level operation.

Operational history

United States

U.S. Air Force

O-2B Skymaster dropping leaflets over Vietnam O-2 Skymaster.jpg
O-2B Skymaster dropping leaflets over Vietnam

The USAF took delivery of the O-2 Skymaster in March 1967 and the O-2A also entered the U.S. Army's inventory during 1967, from USAF stock. By 1970, a total of 532 O-2s had been built, in two variants, for the USAF.

During the Vietnam War, the O-2A was introduced as a replacement for the O-1 Bird Dog, in the forward air control (FAC) aircraft and served in that role with the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron. The O-2B was equipped with loudspeakers and a leaflet dispenser for use in the psychological operations (PSYOPS) role.

While it was intended that the Skymaster be replaced in the FAC mission by the OV-10 Bronco, the O-2A continued to be used for night missions after the OV-10's introduction, due to the OV-10's high level of cockpit illumination, rendering night reconnaissance impractical. [1] The O-2 was phased out completely after additional night upgrades to the OV-10. [2] [3]

A total of 178 USAF O-2 Skymasters were lost in the Vietnam War, to all causes. [4]

Following the Vietnam War, the O-2 continued to operate with both U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard units into the late 1980s.

U.S. Navy

Six former USAF O-2A airframes were transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1983 for use as range controllers with Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122), the Pacific Fleet Replacement Squadron for the A-7 Corsair II at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. These aircraft were later transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the F/A-18 Hornet FRS at NAS Lemoore, in 1986 for use in the same range control role. [5] These O-2A aircraft were eventually replaced by T-34C Turbomentor aircraft transferred from the Naval Air Training Command.

U.S. Army

Of the six USN aircraft mentioned above, two were transferred to the U.S. Army in late 1990. [5] USAF O-2As were augmented by the 1990 aircraft transfer from the Navy. Several disassembled USAF O-2s remain in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. [5] Two O-2As were used at Laguna Army Airfield, Arizona as part of testing programs carried out by the Yuma Proving Ground. These were retired in October 2010 and sent to a museum. [6]

South Vietnam

35 USAF O-2 aircraft were later transferred to and operated by the former Republic of Vietnam Air Force. [3]

El Salvador

During the Salvadoran Civil War, the Salvadoran Air Force received a total of 23 O-2As and 2 O-2Bs from the United States, the first arriving in 1981. They were employed to observe the movements of FMLN formations and direct air strikes against them, playing a major role in forcing the rebel movement to abandon large-scale operations.

Near the end of the war in 1990, the rebels' acquisition of SA-7 missiles resulted in the loss of two O-2As, while another was destroyed by mortar fire, and two more were lost in crashes. [7]

Civilian use

CAL FIRE

In the mid-1970s, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CAL FIRE, found that the contractor-owned air attack aircraft, mostly single-engine Cessna 182s and Cessna 210s, did not provide the airspeed and safety needed for the department's new air tanker program. In 1974, Senior Air Operations Officer Cotton Mason inspected 40 USAF O-2s at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The best 20 were selected and shipped to Fresno, California. These aircraft had been FAC aircraft in Vietnam and were shipped back to the United States in containers, and were disassembled and on pallets when they arrived at Fresno. A crew of California Conservation Corps (CCC) members under the supervision of a CDF Battalion Chief, who was an FAA Certificated Mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), reassembled the aircraft.

They were placed in service in 1976, and served CAL FIRE for more than 20 years, until replaced by a fleet of OV-10 Broncos. [8]

Variants

Planform view showing attachment points Cessna O-2A Skymaster (20063249288).jpg
Planform view showing attachment points
O-2A
Version designed for use in forward air control missions, with underwing ordnance hard points to hold rockets, gun pods or flares. 513 delivered. [3]
O-2B
Version designed for psychological warfare, equipped with loudspeakers and a leaflet dispenser, and not armed. Thirty-one former civil 337s were converted to O-2Bs. [9]

Operators

Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti
An O-2A of the Imperial Iranian Air Force Cessna O-2A of IIAF.jpg
An O-2A of the Imperial Iranian Air Force
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg Iran
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe

Aircraft on display

Displayed at the Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins) Cessna O-2A Skymaster '71380' 'Big Herb' (11457394796).jpg
Displayed at the Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)

Specifications (O-2)

O-2 Line drawing Cessna O-2 Skymaster line.gif
O-2 Line drawing

Data from [41]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed C-130 Hercules</span> American military transport aircraft

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medevac, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in other roles, including as a gunship (AC-130), for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting. It is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. More than 40 variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions marketed as the Lockheed L-100, operate in more than 60 nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco</span> Observation and light attack aircraft

The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is an American twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency (COIN) combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. It can carry up to 3,200 lb (1,450 kg) of external munitions and internal loads such as paratroopers or stretchers, and can loiter for three or more hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna A-37 Dragonfly</span> American light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer

The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is a light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Cessna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna O-1 Bird Dog</span> Military liaison and observation aircraft

The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog is a liaison and observation aircraft that first flew on December 14, 1949, and entered service in 1950 as the L-19 in the Korean War. It went to serve in many branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, was not retired until the 1970s in a number of variants, and also served in the Vietnam War. It was also called the OE-1 and OE-2 in Navy service, flying with the Marine Corps, and in the 1960s it was re-designated the O-1. It remains a civilian-flown warbird aircraft, and there are examples in aviation museums. It was the first all-metal fixed-wing aircraft ordered for and by the United States Army following the Army Air Forces' separation from it in 1947. The Bird Dog had a lengthy career in the U.S. military as well as in other countries, with over 3400 produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna Skymaster</span> 1961 utility aircraft family by Cessna

The Cessna Skymaster is an American twin-engine civil utility aircraft built in a push-pull configuration. Its engines are mounted in the nose and rear of its pod-style fuselage. Twin booms extend aft of the wings to the vertical stabilizers, with the rear engine between them. The horizontal stabilizer is aft of the pusher propeller, mounted between and connecting the two booms. The combined tractor and pusher engines produce centerline thrust and a unique sound. The Cessna O-2 Skymaster is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman OV-1 Mohawk</span> Battlefield reconnaissance and forward air control aircraft

The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk is an American armed military observation and attack aircraft that was designed for battlefield surveillance and light strike capabilities. It has a twin turboprop configuration, and carries two crew members in side-by-side seating. The Mohawk was intended to operate from short, unimproved runways in support of United States Army maneuver forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Sabreliner</span> American business jet

The North American Sabreliner, later sold as the Rockwell Sabreliner, is an American mid-sized business jet developed by North American Aviation. It was offered to the United States Air Force (USAF) in response to its Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program. It was named "Sabreliner" due to the similarity of the wing and tail to North American's F-86 Sabre jet fighter. Military variants, designated T-39 Sabreliner, were used by the USAF, United States Navy (USN), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) after the USAF placed an initial order in 1959. The Sabreliner was also developed into a commercial variant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Flying Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 23rd Flying Training Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force, currently assigned to 58th Operations Group performing helicopter training at Fort Novosel, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter</span> 1951–1978 American strategic tanker aircraft

The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter is a four-engined, piston-powered United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It replaced the KB-29 and was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill Aerospace Museum</span> Military aviation museum in Roy, Utah

Hill Aerospace Museum is a military aviation museum located at Hill Air Force Base in Roy, Utah. It is dedicated to the history of the base and aviation in Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)</span> Aerospace museum at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, US

The Museum of Aviation is the second-largest aerospace museum of the United States Air Force. The museum is located just outside Warner Robins, Georgia. As of July 2019, the museum included four exhibit buildings and more than 85 historic aircraft, among other exhibits, on its 51 acres (21 ha). The museum is also the home of Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Admission is free to nearly half-million visitors each year, which makes it the fourth-most-visited museum of the United States Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grissom Air Museum</span> Aviation museum in Peru, Indiana

The Grissom Air Museum is a military aviation museum at Grissom Air Reserve Base near Peru, Indiana with over twenty aircraft on display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">549th Combat Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 549th Combat Training Squadron is a non-flying United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 57th Operations Group, and is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It conducts air support and air interdiction sorties in "Green Flag (West)" exercises to train USAF fighter pilots and the aerospace power component to the US Army's brigade combat training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 20th Attack Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It currently flies the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and is assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 22nd Attack Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 432d Wing Air Combat Command at Creech Air Force Base near Indian Springs, Nevada. It flies General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned aerial vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forward air control during the Vietnam War</span>

Forward air controllers (FACs) played a significant part in the Vietnam War from the very start. Largely relegated to airborne duty by the constraints of jungled terrain, FACs began operations as early as 1962. Using makeshift propeller-driven aircraft and inadequate radio nets, they became so essential to air operations that the overall need for FACs would not be completely satisfied until 1969. The FAC's expertise as an air strike controller also made him an intelligence source, munitions expert, communication specialist, and above all, the on-scene commander of the strike forces and the start of any subsequent combat search and rescue if necessary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19th Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The 19th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated as the 504th Tactical Air Support Group in 1966 for service during the Vietnam War, and was reactivated in 2009 for service in Afghanistan. It was inactivated on 12 May 2016.

The Connecticut Air & Space Center is an aviation museum located near Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Connecticut, that is focused on the history of aviation in Connecticut. Founded by George Gunther in 1998 after the closing of the Stratford Army Engine Plant, it occupied buildings 6 and 53 of the complex from 2001 until 2022. It now currently occupies a portion of the Curtiss Hangar and is open to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haiti Air Corps</span> Military unit

The Haiti Air Corps was the air force of Haiti from 1942 to 1994. The air corps was disbanded along with the rest of the armed forces after Operation Uphold Democracy, the US invasion of 1994.

References

  1. The OV-10 Bronco Association (March 2002). "What is the Pave Nail system?" . Retrieved 3 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. Skutack, Daniel (February 2003). "COVEYs in Southeast Asia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fact Sheets: Cessna O-2A Skymaster, Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Archived from the original on 1 August 2008.
  4. Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC/ Fixed-Wing Southeast Asia 1961–1973. 2001. ISBN   1-85780-115-6
  5. 1 2 3 United States Military Aviation Directory, AIRTime Publishing, Norwalk CT, c2000, p. 231, ISBN   1-880588-29-3
  6. James Gilbert (October 2010). "Retired aircraft soars in Yuma one last time". Army Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  7. Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador, 1980–1992". ACIG.org. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  8. "Public domain material from "CDF Aviation Management History", CDF official website, retrieved 23 August 2007". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  9. Andrade 1979, p. 140
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Cessna Skymasters used by non-US Air-Forces" Archived March 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , Skymaster.org.uk. Accessed 10 May 2010.
  11. "Haiti Air Force". www.aeroflight.co.uk.
  12. "21st. Counter Insurgence Squadron O-2A". Archived from the original on 27 July 2012.
  13. AIR International, December 1994, p. 323.
  14. World Air Forces – Historical Listings Thailand (THL), archived from the original on 25 January 2012, retrieved 30 August 2012
  15. "Aviation Photo #1611364: Cessna O-2A Pelican - USA - Navy". Airliners.net.
  16. Porfilio, Gabriel (19 June 2017). "Uruguayan Navy accepts three Cessna O-2As from Chile". IHS Jane's 360. Orlando. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  17. United States Air Force Museum Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Cessna O-2A Skymaster". National Museum of the United States Air Force.
  19. "Hulburt Field - O-2A Skymaster". Archived from the original on 23 June 2010.
  20. "vmap - O-2A Skymaster (Gray)". Vmap.wikispaces.com. 20 November 1967. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  21. Shaw AFB Archived 2010-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  22. USAF Armament Museum Archived 2010-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  23. New York ANG - 105th AG, Newburgh Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  24. USAF History and Traditions Museum Archived 1999-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
  25. Kelly Field Heritage Museum Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  26. Connecticut Air & Space Center
  27. Dyess Linear Air Park Archived 1999-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
  28. Air Mobility Command Museum Archived 2010-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  29. Travis Air Force Museum Archived 2010-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Hill Air Force Base - Fact Sheet: SUPER SKYMASTER". Hill.af.mil. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  31. "Museum of Aviation - Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Archived from the original on 23 September 2010.
  32. "Grissom Air Museum - Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Archived from the original on 1 December 2010.
  33. Illinois ANG - 182nd AG, Peoria Archived 2010-06-23 at the Wayback Machine
  34. Pima Air & Space Museum Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  35. Castle Air Museum Archived 2006-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  36. "USAF Serial Number Search (67-21411)" . Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  37. Valiant Air Command Museum Archived 2010-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  38. "Help us save a Vietnam Vet!". www.evergreenmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  39. March Field Air Museum Archived 2010-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  40. "American Wings Air Museum". aviationmuseum.eu. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  41. Donald & Lake 1996, p. 115
  42. Dorr & Bishop 1996, p. 237
  43. 1 2 3 4 "T. 0. lL-2A-l - External stores - FAC_Book/0-2_Dash_One". Chancefac.net. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018.

Bibliography

  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN   0-904597-22-9.
  • Donald, David; Lake, Jon, eds. (1996). Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft (Single volume ed.). London: Aerospace Publishing. ISBN   1-874023-95-6.
  • Dorr, Robert F.; Bishop, Chris (1996). Vietnam Air War Debrief. London: Aerospace Publishing. ISBN   1-874023-78-6.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Cessna O-2 Skymaster at Wikimedia Commons