Vought O5U

O5U
Role	Observation floatplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Vought
First flight	8 May 1934
Number built	1

The Vought O5U was a 1930s prototype American observation floatplane to meet a United States Navy requirement for a catapult launched scouting aircraft. The contract was won by Curtiss who went on to produce the SOC Seagull; only one O5U was built. ^[1]

Development

The United States Navy contracted three companies to produce prototypes to meet a requirement for a catapult launched biplane, with a central float and folding wings. Douglas produced the XO2D-1, Curtiss the XO3C-1 and Vought the XO5U-1.

The XO5U-1 (serial number 9399) was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 piston engine ^[2] and first flew on the 8 May 1934. ^[1]

The contract was awarded to Curtiss and only one XO5U-1 was built. The Status of Naval Aircraft, dated June 1937, listed the XO5U-1 as assigned at Mustin Field at the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[3] It crashed in May 1938.

Specifications (XO5U-1)

Data from ^{[4] [5]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, observer/gunner)
• Length: 32.5 ft 6 in (10.06 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (11 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 550 hp (410 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 mph (249 km/h, 135 kn)
• Service ceiling: 15,100 ft (4,600 m)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) fixed forward firing machine gun
    
  • 1 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) flexible machine gun in rear cockpit

See also

• Aviation portal

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Douglas O2D
• Curtiss SOC Seagull
• Fairey Seafox
• Fokker C.XI
• Heinkel He 114
• Nakajima E8N
• Potez 452

Related lists

• List of flying boats and floatplanes

References

Notes

1. Michael O'Leary (November 2002). "Heroic Seagull". Air Classics.
2. Andrade 1979, p. 205
3. Larkins, William T., "U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941 / U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959", Orion Books, a division of Crown Books, New York, 1988, Library of Congress card number 88-17753, ISBN   0-517-56920-5, page 202.
4. Eckland, K.O. "Vought". USA: Aerofiles.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
5. "Vought X05U-1". USA: Vought.org. Retrieved 6 February 2025.

Bibliography

• Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN   0-904597-22-9.