O-43: Difference between revisions

<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->{{Infobox Aircraft

|name = 0-43

|type = Observation

|manufacturer = [[Douglas Aircraft Company]]

|image =Image:Douglas O-43.jpg

|caption = Douglas O-43

|designer =

|first flight =

|introduced = 1930

|retired =

|status =

|primary user = [[United States Army Air Corps]]

|more users =

|produced =

|number built =

|unit cost =

|variants with their own articles =

}}

The [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas]] '''O-43''' was a monoplane observation [[aircraft]] used by the [[United States Army Air Corps]].

Five '''Y1[[O-31]]A''' service-test aircraft were ordered in 1931, and delivered to the USAAC in early 1933 designated '''Y1O-43'''. They differed from the final configuration of the O-31A, with a wire-braced parasol wing, and a new fin and rudder. An order for 23 '''O-43A''' aircraft was completed during 1934, with a deepened fuselage, which eliminated the need for the ventral bulge under the observer's position. Powered by a single 675hp Curtiss V-1570-59, it also had taller vertical surfaces with an inset rudder similar to the O-31A. The canopy was enlarged, and fully enclosed both cockpits. The O-43 and O-43A served with the USSAC observation squadrons for several years before being assigned to reserve National Guard units, such as the [[111th Observation Squadron]] [[Brownwood Regional Airport|Brownwood Airfield Texas]], 15th Observation Squadron [[Fort Sill]] Oklahoma, and 3rd Observation Squadron [[Langley Field]] Virginia.

The 24th airframe of the O-43A contract was completed as the '''XO-46''' prototype.(See [[Douglas O-46]])

==Specifications (O-43)==

{{aircraft specifications

|plane or copter?=plane

|jet or prop?=prop

|ref=

|crew=

|capacity=

|payload main=

|payload alt=

|length main= 33 ft 11 in

|length alt= 10.34 m

|span main= 45 ft 8 in

|span alt= 13.92 m

|height main=

|height alt=

|area main=

|area alt=

|airfoil=

|empty weight main=

|empty weight alt=

|loaded weight main= 1165 lbs

|loaded weight alt= 528 kg

|useful load main=

|useful load alt=

|max takeoff weight main=

|max takeoff weight alt=

|more general=

|engine (prop)= [[Curtiss V-1570-59]]

|type of prop=

|number of props=1

|power main= 675 hp

|power alt= 540 kW

|power original=

|max speed main=

|max speed alt=

|cruise speed main=

|cruise speed alt=

|stall speed main=

|stall speed alt=

|never exceed speed main=

|never exceed speed alt=

|range main=

|range alt=

|ceiling main= 22,400 ft

|ceiling alt= 6827.52 m

|climb rate main=

|climb rate alt=

|loading main=

|loading alt=

|thrust/weight=

|power/mass main=

|power/mass alt=

|more performance=

|armament=

* 1 .30 cal (7.62 mm) [[Browning machine gun]]

|avionics=

}}

{{aero-specs}}

{{Douglas aircraft}}

{{aviation lists}}

[[Category:U.S. military utility aircraft 1930-1939|O-43, Douglas]]

[[de:Douglas O-43]]

==References==

*[http://www.usaaf.net/has/jops/O43.htm The United States Army Air Forces in World War II]

*[http://www.boeing.com/history/ Boeing History]

*[http://www.aerofiles.com/ Aerofiles]

*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gif cover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, 1152 pp.