Cessna O-2A “Skymaster”

CESSNA O-2A "SKYMASTER"

O-2A it is a US military aircraft served in the US Air Force. It has its origins in the civilian Cessna 337 Super Skymaster. The O-2A version was modified to meet the needs of the U.S. military, particularly to serve as a Forward Air Controller (FAC). This meant that the O-2A carried wing pylons for rockets, flares and other light armament. In the FAC role, the O-2A identified and marked enemy targets with smoke missiles, coordinated raids, and reported damage to targets.

Both the civil and military variants were low-cost twin-engine aircraft, which, thanks to the placement of the engines in the so-called Push-Pull configuration, i.e. one engine in the nose with a thrust propeller and the other in the rear of the fuselage with a push propeller, allowed much better manoeuvrability than was usual for light twin-engine aircraft. In addition, it allowed the wing of the aircraft to be positioned in a so-called top-plane configuration. Modifications made for the military configuration included seats for the pilot and observer in the front of the aircraft instead of the six seats in the civilian version; installation of vision panels in the doors (for better ground observation); installation of fireproof foam in the fuel tanks in the wings; and installation of military, not civilian, communications and navigation equipment and antennas. The first O-2 flew in January 1967 and production began shortly thereafter. Performance (especially at cruise altitudes) was degraded due to the added antennas and significant weight increase, but was considered adequate for the expected low-altitude operations.

The aircraft was most used in the Vietnam War, it replaced the Cessna O-1 Birdog. A total of 178 were lost in the war for various reasons. The O-2 was to be replaced by the OV-10 Bronco, but due to its limitations in night operations, the Skymaster was still used for a long time alongside the Bronco before it was retired completely.

Pilot: to be determined