North American O-47

Observation fixed-wing aircraft introduced in 1937

Overview

North American Aviation (NAA) United States ICAO: O47 1936–1939

The North American O-47 was designed and manufactured by North American Aviation as an observation fixed-wing aircraft monoplane with a low-wing configuration, retractable undercarriage, and a three-blade propeller. Introduced in 1937, the aircraft was primarily used by the United States Army Air Corps. It first flew in November 1935 and has a total number of 239 aircraft built.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Wright R-1820-49 radial
Engine type
Piston
Power
975 hp · 727 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
3
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
33 ft 3 in  ·  10.13 m
Tail height
12 ft 2 in  ·  3.70 m
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 11 in  ·  1.20 m
Wing span
46 ft 4 in  ·  14.12 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
8,050 lb  ·  3,650 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
—
Fuel capacity
Max cruise speed
192 kt  ·  221 mph  ·  356 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
730 nm  ·  840 mi  ·  1,350 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
23,200 ft  ·  7,100 m
Rate of climb
1,470 ft/min  ·  7 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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North American O-47B at the National Museum of the United States Air Force 1

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Operational Context

The North American O-47 was designed to replace the observation biplanes of the United States Army Air Corps such as the Thomas-Morse O-19 and the Douglas O-38. The new aircraft was bigger and weightier compared to its antecedent and could accommodate three crew members including a pilot, a copilot-observer, and a gunner in a tandem configuration below its long canopy.

In 1934, the prototype designated as XO-47 was built; it was powered by an 850 horsepower Wright R-1820-41 engine. In November 1935, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. The O-47A version was constructed in Inglewood California with a total number of 164 aircraft built.

From 1937 to 1938, the USAAC ordered a total of 174 aircraft, and ninety-three were deployed to National Guard units. In 1938, a total of seventy-four O-47Bs were ordered by the Army equipped with a redesigned engine cowling to improve cooling, a more powerful engine, and updated radio equipment.

The O-47A has an external length of 10.24 meters, an external height of 3.2 meters, and a fuselage width of 1.2 meters. The wingspan is 14.1 meters and the wing area is 32.5 square meters. It has a tail height of 3.7 meters and a wheelbase of 6.3 meters.

The empty weight is 2,712.5 kg, the gross weight is 3,463.6 kg, and the maximum takeoff weight is 3,649 kg. The aircraft is powered by a single Wright R-1820-49 radial engine with a thrust rating of 975 horsepower. The O-47A has a maximum speed of 192 knots and a cruise speed of 170 knots.

The travel range is 730 nautical miles. It has a service ceiling of 23,200 feet and a climb rate of 1,470.8 feet per minute. The aircraft could be loaded with a single fixed forward-firing .30 cal machine gun with 200 rounds in the starboard wing and a single flexible .30 cal machine gun with 600 rounds in the rear cockpit.