Douglas O-43

O-43

Role	Observation
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Introduction	1930
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	24^[1]
Developed from	Douglas O-31

The Douglas O-43 was a monoplane observation aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps.

Development

Five Y1O-31A 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 675 hp Curtiss V-1570-59 inline engine, 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 National Guard units,^[2] such as the 111th Observation Squadron 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)

Data from "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 0-85177-816-X) 1964, 596 pp.

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 33 ft 11 in (10.34 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 8 in (13.92 m)
Height: 12 ft 3 in (3.74 m)
Wing area: 340 ft² (31.6 m²)
Airfoil: fabric covered parasol
Empty weight: 4,135 lb (1,875.6 kg)
Loaded weight: 5,300 lb (2404 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1570-59 water-cooled V12 inline engine, 675 hp (540 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 190 mph (306 km/h)
Cruise speed: 163 mph (262 km/h)
Service ceiling: 22,400 ft (6827.52 m)
Rate of climb: 1,515 ft/min (462 m/min)

Armament

1 fixed and 1 flexible .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning machine gun

References

↑ "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
↑ "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas O-43.

Douglas military aircraft

Fighters	XP-48 P-70 F-6 F-10 XFD F3D F4D F5D XF6D

Ground attack	XA-2 A-20 A-24 A-26 A-33 A-1 A-3 A-4/A-4AR/A-4SU DT T2D XT3D TBD SBD BD XBTD XTB2D AD XA2D A3D A4D

Bombers	YB-7 YB-11 B-18 XB-19 XB-22 B-23 B-26 XB-31 XB-42 XB-43 B-66 DB-1 DB-2 DB-7 DB-8 DB-19 DB-73 Boston I/II/III/IV/V Digby I Havoc I/II DXD1

Observation	O-2 OD O2D O-31 O-35 O-38 O-43 YO-44 O-46 O-53 YOA-5

Patrol	PD P2D P3D

Reconnaissance	F-3

Transports	C-1 C-21 C-32 C-33 YC-34 C-38 C-39 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-58 UC-67 C-68 C-74 C-84 C-110 XC-112/YC-112 XC-114 YC-116 C-117 C-118 C-124 YC-129 C-133 C-9 C-24 RD R2D R3D R4D (R4D-2 & R4D-4) R5D JD R6D CC-129 Dakota I/III/IV Dakota II LXD1 PD.808 Skymaster I

Gliders	XCG-17

Training aircraft	BT-1 BT-2 XT-30

Experimental	DWC D-558-1 D-558-2 X-3

USAAC/USAAF observation aircraft

Observation	O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10 O-11 O-12 O-13 O-14 O-15 O-16 O-17 O-18 O-19 O-20 O-21 O-22 O-23 O-24 O-25 O-26 O-27 O-28 O-29 O-30 O-31 O-32 O-33 O-34 O-35 O-36 O-37 O-38 O-39 O-40 O-41 O-42 O-43 O-44 O-45 O-46 O-47 O-48 O-49 O-50 YO-51 O-52 O-53 O-54 O-55 O-56 O-57 O-58 O-59 O-60 O-61 O-62 O-63

Observation Amphibian	OA-1 OA-2 OA-3 OA-4 OA-5 OA-6 OA-7 OA-8 OA-9 OA-10 OA-11 OA-12 OA-13 OA-14 OA-15 SA-16

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Douglas O-43

Development

Specifications (O-43)

See also

References

External links