Curtiss O-1E Falcon
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1925 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Curtiss O-1 Falcon was the US Army Air Corps' standard single-engined observation biplane of the mid-to-late 1920s, designed for artillery spotting and reconnaissance in cooperation with ground forces. It was produced in several sub-variants differing primarily in engine type.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.28 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat observation biplane with Curtiss D-12 inline engine
- Equal-span single-bay biplane with N-type interplane struts
- Rear observer cockpit with Scarff ring
The single-bay biplane with equal-span wings, the Curtiss water-cooled inline engine with a neat spinner, N-type interplane struts, and the two-cockpit arrangement with a rear observer's Scarff ring are characteristic.
Specifications
- The Curtiss O-1E Falcon has a length of 8.28 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.58 m (38 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The O-1 Falcon entered USAAC service in 1925 and was progressively developed through the O-1B to O-1G, with the O-1E being a mid-series variant. The Curtiss D-12 engine gave it excellent performance for its era. Falcons served on the US-Mexican border and in various overseas territories during the late 1920s.
Variants
The O-1 series ran from A through G; the E variant used the Curtiss V-1150 engine; related export versions were designated Hawk and served with several Latin American air forces.
Where you'll see it
O-1 Falcons served with USAAC observation squadrons throughout the continental United States and in the Panama Canal Zone and Philippine Islands, remaining in service until replaced by monoplane types in the mid-1930s.
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- Loening OA-1A
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