Douglas YOA-5

YOA-5
Role	Seaplane bomber
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight	1935
Introduction	1935
Retired	1943
Status	Prototype
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	1
Developed from	Douglas XP3D

The Douglas YOA-5 was an Amphibious aircraft designed for the United States Army Air Corps. Although a prototype was built, it did not enter production.

Design and development

In November 1932, the U.S. Army ordered the development of an amphibious reconnaissance aircraft/bomber, intended to act as navigation leaders and rescue aircraft for formations of conventional bombers. The resultant aircraft, which was ordered under the bomber designation YB-11, was designed in parallel with the similar but larger Douglas XP3D patrol flying boat for the United States Navy. It was a high-winged monoplane with two Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engines mounted in individual nacelles above the wing, resembling an enlarged version of the Douglas Dolphin.^[1]

Prior to it being completed, it was first redesignated as an observation aircraft YO-44 and then as the YOA-5 'observation amphibian model 5'. It first flew during January 1935, and was delivered to the army during February that year.^[1] The concept for which it was designed proved impracticable, and no further production ensued, but the YOA-5 was used to set two world distance records for amphibians, being finally scrapped in December 1943.^[2]

Operators

 United States

• United States Army Air Corps

Variants

YB-11

An amphibious reconnaissance bomber ordered in 1932 by the US Army Air Corps.

YO-44

The YB-11 redesignated in the Observation category before completion.

YOA-5

Another redesignation to the Observation Amphibian category. One built, given the aforementioned designations at various times in its life.

Specifications (YB-11)

General characteristics

• Length: 69 ft 9 in (21.3 m)
• Wingspan: 89 ft 9 in (27.4 m)
• Height: 22 ft 0 in (6.7 m)
• Wing area: 1,101 ft² (102.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 14,038 lb (6,368 kg)
• Loaded weight: 20,000 lb (9,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-45 Cyclone air-cooled radial piston engines, 800 hp (600 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 169 mph (147 knots, 272 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 152 mph (132 knots, 245 km/h)
• Stall speed: 75 mph (65 knots, 120 km/h)
• Range: mi (nm, km)
• Service ceiling: 18,900 ft (5,760 m)
• Rate of climb: 770 ft/min (3.9 m/s)
• Wing loading: 18 lb/ft² (89 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.080 hp/lb (130 W/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 3× .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns

See also

Related lists

• List of bomber aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Francillon, René. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London:Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas YB-11.

• USAF Museum description of YB-11
• Encyclopedia of American aircraft