Berliner-Joyce OJ-2

Berliner-Joyce · USA · first flew 1931 · light aircraft

The OJ-2 was a small-batch production observation biplane built by Berliner-Joyce for the US Navy, used primarily by reserve squadrons in the early 1930s as a shipboard and shore-based observation aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.15 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Berliner-Joyce shipboard observation biplane
US Navy reserve observation biplane 1930s
Open-cockpit biplane with Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial

Open-cockpit biplane with a Wasp radial engine in a Townend ring cowling, conventional two-seat observation layout — typical interwar US Navy observation biplane without strong visual distinguishers from contemporaries.

Specifications

The Berliner-Joyce OJ-2 has a length of 8.15 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.9 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 257 km/h (160 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Following evaluation of the XOJ-1 prototype, the Navy ordered a limited number of OJ-2s for reserve unit use; the type was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engine and equipped for the standard observation mission.

Variants

The OJ-2 was the sole production variant of the Berliner-Joyce OJ family; the manufacturer produced no subsequent observation designs as the company merged and eventually ceased operations.

Where you'll see it

Served with US Navy reserve squadrons in the early 1930s, replacing older types; quickly superseded by more modern designs as the Navy modernised its observation fleet with types like the Curtiss SOC Seagull.

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