Anonymous, e-mail, 16.03.2025 20:25 Data still quoted from the Smithsonian. Cutoff sentence repeated. My apologies as no links allowed. Will post it without it being functional. Two months later, it was transferred to the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory at Moffett Field, California, for a tour with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). On March 17, 1943, it was again transferred to the 4120th AAF unit based at Freeman Field, Seymour, Indiana, and used for instruction. In May 1946, it was sent to the Douglas plant in Orchard Place, Illinois, where it was prepared for museum display. Its engine was replaced at Moffett Field and the airplane was transferred to NASM on January 3, 1949. Object Details Date 1935 Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Aircraft Manufacturer North American Aviation Inc. Physical Description Three seat, single engine observation plane Dimensions Height: 3.81 m (12.5 ft) Length: 10.4 m (34.0 ft) Wing span: 14.2 m (46.5 ft) Weight (Gross): Empty, 2,682 kg (5,900 lb) Engine: Wright R-1820-49 Cyclone, 975 horsepower airandspace si edu/collection-objects/north-american-o-47a/nasm_A19600301000

Anonymous, e-mail, 14.03.2025 02:01 Data quoted from National Air & Space Museum. Link to follow. O-47A "In May 1935, General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation of Dundalk, Maryland, a subsidiary of North American Aviation, completed a new design called the GA-15, later designated the XO-47. (The "O" denoted observation. At this time, the U.S. Army Air Corps operated units, called observation squadrons, dedicated solely to reconnaissance missions.) The XO-47 was an all-metal, cantilevered monoplane, with hydraulically-actuated wing flaps and retractable landing gear. The design featured five water-tight compartments that were built into each wing panel. This design feature provided floatation capability in an emergency water landing. The XO-47 had a large cockpit, seating three crew in tandem. The front seat was the pilot's position, the center section was occupied by the copilot/radio operator/cameraman, and the rear area was the gunner's position, equipped with a .30-caliber machine gun. The center seat could be folded to permit the middle crewman to lower himself to a second seat below, giving him access to the camera bay with its wide observation window. In addition to its extensive reconnaissance capabilities, the O-47 was a rugged airplane, flew well, and was very fast for its day, with a maximum speed of 360 kph (225 mph). In the spring of 1936, the XO-47 was flown to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, for evaluation. Strength and flight performance tests met expectations, but design modifications were required in aspects of crew visibility, armament, and propulsion systems. Following these trials, the aircraft was flown to the newly-established North American Aviation plant in Inglewood, California, where it was re-designated the NA-15. A number of further refinements were made by chief engineer and president of N.A.A., James "Dutch" Kindelberger, who had come to North American with the acquisition of the Berliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation in 1933. The XO-47/NA-15 was accepted by the U.S. Army Air Corps, and on Aug 15, 1936; they ordered 109 aircraft. The first production model was equipped with a 975-horsepower Wright R-1820-49 Cyclone engine and a three-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic propeller, and was designated the O-47A. Further tests were conducted at Wright Field. Abnormally high cylinder-head temperatures were noted during full power runs, necessitating modification of the cowling. Rather than undertaking a costly retooling for a complete redesign, small individual air scoops were added to the lip of the cowl on the first production run O-47As. In 1938, the Army Air Corps ordered 55 more O-47As, followed later that year by an order for 74 more, powered by an uprated 1,060-horsepower Wright R-1820-57 engine. This aircraft variant was designated the O-47B. During the winter of 1937 and 1938, skis were experimentally fitted to an O-47. The Edo Float company also conducted tests with a twin-float installation on an O-47. Both configurations flew, but neither was considered successful. The O-47 was the most advanced observation airplane ever delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps, but on the eve of the United States' entry into the Second World War in 1941, its place was eclipsed by newer and more versatile fighter and bomber aircraft that could also perform the observation role, and were less vulnerable in combat. The O-series aircraft were also intended for air-to-ground liaison missions. But light airplanes such as Piper Cubs and Taylorcraft were better suited to this type of flying than the relatively larger and heavier O-47. The new category of L-series, for liaison, using these simpler, light aircraft, was adopted to meet this need, and the O-series designation was phased out. Thus, the career of the O-47 was short. A few saw limited service in World War II on anti-submarine patrol duty off the U.S. coast, and preformed other mundane tasks. Most had been sent to military ground schools by 1943 for training in modern metal construction and engine and airframe maintenance. By the end of the war only about a dozen O-47s remained intact. A few found their way into civilian hands. One was used to film the final scenes of the movie, Flight of the Phoenix, in 1965, after the famous stunt pilot, Paul Mantz, was killed when flying a specially-built airplane that was the focus of the film. To shoot the last scenes and complete the movie, the O-47 was made to appear like the destroyed airplane. The NASM O-47A was purchased by the Army Air Corps on October 20, 1938. It was delivered to the Eighth Corps Aero Detachment at Biggs Field, Texas, on October 21, 1938, where it remained until March 3, 1942. After a short stay at March Army Air Force Base, California, it returned to Biggs where it remained until July 12, 1942. It then moved to Salinas AAF Base near Kansas City, where it operated until August 30, 1942, when it went to the Fairfield Air Depot, near Dayton, Ohio. Two months later, it was transferred to the Ames Aer ...

Bob Lindberg, e-mail, 23.05.2012 04:26 My cousin and I got a ride in this plane in Chino California in 1979. My brother got a ride in a P-51 mustang which joined up with us for pictures in formation. The O-47 later crashed and burned on landing at Chino. The Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino has another O-47 they are restoring. I saw another one in the Daton Ohio Air Museum. It looks in mint condition. My cousin's dad used to be an aerial photographer in O-47s.

Klaatu, e-mail, 03.05.2011 00:39 There was nothing intrinsically wrong with this aircraft. However, during World War II the Army found that the mission that planes like this one were designed to fulfill was more ably carried out by smaller and less expensive light aircraft that could operate close to the front lines; such as Piper Cubs, Aeroncas and Taylorcraft. Such planes became collectively known as "Grasshoppers". In a similar fashion, the British Army adopted the famous Auster.

J. Narland, e-mail, 27.12.2010 06:46 I would be interested in any information and especially any photographs pertaining to the O-47 use by the Iowa National Guard.

Ken Dowd, e-mail, 23.09.2010 18:06 O-47A 38-284 was based at Ontario,Ca, used in film "Flight of the Phoenix", crashed and destroyed at Portville,CA in 1982. O-47B 39-098 was located at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka,KS

Robert Bourlier, e-mail, 21.09.2010 00:46 The 118th Observation Squadron, CT National Guard, deployed to Jacksonville, FL in 1941 where they performed anti-submarine patrol off the Florida and Georgia coast in the O-46 & O-47. In 1943 they became the 118th TRS flying P-39 then P-40 and P-51 reconnaissance planes. Deploying to the CBI in December 1943, the squadron was assigned to the 23rd FG in China where the CO, LtCol Edward O. McComas, became the 4th highest scoring ace in the 14th AF.

Mark Barnhill, e-mail, 07.09.2010 05:36 My dad Maj Clarence Barnhill was Cmdr of the 112th Obs Sqdn Ohio Nat. Guard based at Cleveland arpt flying O-47s.Sqdn was activated in Dec 1940 and sent to Pope Field, Ft Bragg, NC. Sqdn was sent to Dover, Del Dec 26,1941 for anti-sub patrol. Sqdn switched to O-52s shortly thereafter.

John Brasko Jr, e-mail, 10.01.2010 19:36 My dad also flew in O-47s on anti-submarine patrols from Cape Cod, Mass. He was a Sgt and photographer-gunner.

R.C. Holliday, e-mail, 24.06.2009 17:32 I recall that these were operated on submarine patrol missions out of Hunter Field in Savannah, GA in 1942-1943. My father (Captain Allen P. Holliday) was the engineering officer there at the time and flew several missions. I would like any information available relating to that activity.