Vought O5U
Vought · United States · first flew 1934 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Vought O5U was a 1930s prototype American observation floatplane built to a US Navy requirement for a catapult-launched scouting aircraft. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.91 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Catapult-launched biplane observation floatplane with a central float
- Folding wings
- Single Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine
Look for a two-seat biplane floatplane with a single central float and a radial engine.
Specifications
- The Vought O5U has a length of 9.91 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 249 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Navy asked Douglas, Curtiss and Vought for a catapult-launched biplane with a central float and folding wings. Vought's XO5U-1 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 and first flew on 8 May 1934.
Variants
There were no variants: only one was built. Its rivals were the Douglas XO2D-1 and the Curtiss XO3C-1.
Where you'll see it
The contract went to Curtiss, which produced the SOC Seagull. The XO5U-1 was assigned at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia and crashed in May 1938.
Related aircraft
- Vought SBU Corsair
- Vought XF3U
- Vought SB2U Vindicator
- Vought V-141
- ANF Les Mureaux 115
- CAMS 110
- CANT Z.501 Gabbiano
- Curtiss SOC Seagull
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.