The Curtiss O-52 Owl was developed and manufactured by Curtiss-Wright Corporation as an observation aircraft during the early 1940s. It was operated by the United States Army Air Corps prior to and during the Second World War. The aircraft first flew in 1940 and was introduced in 1941. A total of 203 O-52s were built.
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Photo Gallery
- Description
- Manufacturer:
- Curtiss
- Country:
- United States
- Manufactured:
- 1940 to: 1942
- ICAO:
- O52
- Price:
- US$0.031 million (1940)
- Performance
- Weights
- Dimensions
- Avionics:
- Engine:
- 1x Pratt & Whitney R-1340-51 Wasp
Piston - Power:
- 600 horsepower
- Max Cruise Speed:
- 190 knots
352 Km/h - Approach Speed (Vref):
- Travel range:
- 609 Nautical Miles
1,128 Kilometers - Fuel Economy:
- Service Ceiling:
- 21,000 feet
- Rate of Climb:
- 1250 feet / minute
6.35metre / second - Take Off Distance:
- Landing Distance:
- Max Take Off Weight:
- 2,433 Kg
5,364 lbs - Max Landing Weight:
- Max Payload:
- Fuel Tank Capacity:
- Baggage Volume:
- Seats - Economy / General:
- 2 seats
- Seats - Business Class:
- Seats - First Class:
- Cabin Height:
- Cabin Width:
- Cabin Length:
- Exterior Length:
- 8 metre - 26.25 feet
- Tail height:
- 3.03 metre - 9.94 feet
- Fuselage Diameter:
- 1.4 metre - 4.59 feet
- Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
- 12.42 metre - 40.75 feet
- Wing Tips:
- No Winglets
click / tap to open full screen gallery
Curtiss O-52 Owl at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O-52 Owl at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O 52 Owl at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. 1
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O 52 Owl at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. 1
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O-52 co*ckpit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O-52 co*ckpit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
credit: U.S. Air Force
Curtiss O-52 Owl observation aircraft.
credit: SDASM Archives
Curtiss O-52 Owl observation aircraft.
credit: SDASM Archives
Curtiss O-52 Owl at Pima Air Space Museum
credit: Aeroprints.com
Curtiss O-52 Owl at Pima Air Space Museum
credit: Aeroprints.com
Curtiss O-52 Owl.
credit: kitmasterbloke
Curtiss O-52 Owl.
credit: kitmasterbloke
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In 1939, the development of the O-52 started. It was designed by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation as the concluding heavy observation aircraft intended for the United States Army Air Corps. In 1940, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. In the same year, the USAAC made an order for 203 O-52 Owls for observation roles. However, in 1941, the aircraft became unsatisfactory to modern combat situations in overseas areas. As a consequence, the aircraft was consigned to perform courier roles inside the United States and as an ASW on the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. In November 1942, the Soviet Union made an order for thirty aircraft in the Lend-Lease policy.
The O-52 Owl can carry two crew members. It has an external length of 8.03 meters, an external height of 2.4 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.4 meters. It has a tail height of 3.03 meters and a wheelbase of 5.17 meters. The wingspan is 12.42 meters and the wing area is 20 square meters. It has an empty weight of 1,919 kg and a gross weight of 2,433 kg.
The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney R-1340-51 Wasp engine. It is a nine-cylinder single-row supercharged air-cooled radial piston engine with two overhead valves per cylinder, a single-speed centrifugal-type supercharger, two-barrel Stromberg carburetor, and an air cooling system. It produces a maximum thrust of 600 hp and drives a three-bladed metal propeller.
The O-52 has a maximum speed of 190 knots and a cruise speed of 167 knots at seventy-five percent power. The travel range is 609 nautical miles. It can fly up to 21,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 1,250 feet per minute. The aircraft could be armed with a single fixed forward-firing 7.62 mm machine gun and a single 7.62 mm machine gun on a flexible mount located in the rear co*ckpit.
All Curtiss Aircraft
- Curtiss C-46 Commando |
- Curtiss O-52 Owl |
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk |
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk |
- Curtiss SB2C Helldiver |
- Curtiss SBC Helldiver |
- Curtiss SC Seahawk |
- Curtiss SO3C Seamew |
- Curtiss SOC Seagull |
- Curtiss-Wright AT-9 |
- Curtiss-Wright CW-19 |
- Curtiss-Wright CW-22 |
- Curtiss-Wright Junior |
