Loening OL-7
Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation · USA · first flew 1927 · light aircraft
The OL-7 was a late variant of the Loening OL amphibian, reportedly powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine, continuing the family's service with US Navy observation units.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Loening OL-7 amphibian with Pratt & Whitney Wasp
- Late OL-series Navy observation amphibian biplane
- 1920s sesquiplane amphibian with hull float and wheels
Same sesquiplane amphibian silhouette as all OL variants; the Wasp engine installation may produce a slightly neater cowling than earlier Liberty-powered marks, but the overall configuration is identical.
Specifications
- The Loening OL-7 has a length of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.7 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
By the OL-7 mark, the Loening amphibian design had been in service for several years and was approaching the end of its front-line usefulness; the OL-7 and OL-8 were among the final Navy procurement of the type before retirement.
Variants
One of the final production OL marks; the OL series concluded with the OL-8 and the experimental XO2L-1, after which the design was retired and Loening was absorbed into Keystone.
Where you'll see it
Served with US Navy observation squadrons in the late 1920s; phased out as monoplane observation types entered service in the early 1930s.
Related aircraft
- Loening OL-6
- Loening OL-4
- Loening OL-5
- Loening OL-8
- BFW M.19
- Cessna Model A
- de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
- Focke-Wulf F 19 Ente
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