The Doyle Aero O-2 Oriole or Doyle O-2 was a parasol wing aircraft.[1]
| O-2 Oriole | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Light aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Doyle Aero Corporation |
| Designer | Harvey Doyle, Raymond Crowley |
| First flight | 15 October 1928 |
| Number built | 7 |
Development
editBrothers Harvey and Wilson Doyle designed the Vulcan American Moth Monoplane in 1928.[2] They left the Vulcan Aircraft Company after a disagreement with its founder and moved to Baltimore Maryland with backing from Lawyer Charles Baldwin. They set to work on a new monoplane, with test pilot Otto Melamet flying the prototype O-2 Oriole on 15 October 1928.
Design
editThe O-2 is a parasol wing, conventional landing gear, strut-braced, tandem-seat, open cockpit, sport aircraft. The fuselage is constructed of welded steel tubing with an aluminum turtledeck and belly covers, covered with fabric. The wing uses wooden spars and ribs with the fuel tanks the wing roots. A small door provided access to the front seat.[3]
Operational history
editSerial number 2 and 3 were wrecked en route to the All-American airshow in Detroit to demonstrate the aircraft. Serial number 5 was rushed to completion to be trucked to the event. The same aircraft was restored in 1987 and still is airworthy with a private owner.[4]
Variants
edit- O-3 Oriole
- O-2 modified with a 120 hp (89 kW) Chevrolair D-4 engine
Specifications (O-2 Oriole)
editData from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 1
- Length: 19 ft (5.8 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
- Empty weight: 780 lb (354 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,280 lb (581 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × LeBlond 5DE Radial, 65 hp (48 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 89 kn (102 mph, 164 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 74 kn (85 mph, 137 km/h)
See also
editRelated development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Heath Parasol - Parasol
References
edit- ^ Aviation: cover. 16 March 1929.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Aeronautics: 101. June 1929.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Harvey Doyle (March 1987). "A New Date With An Old Love". Sport Aviation.
- ^ Harvey Doyle (March 1987). "A New Date With An Old Love". Sport Aviation.