Cessna O-2 Skymaster

History of the Cessna O-2 Skymaster

The light observation aircraft, with its inherent ability to scan the battlefield, has served the world's major military powers for over 100 years. Such aircraft have always been characterized by simplicity, robustness and operational weight, allowing them to fly at low speeds while maintaining a degree of survivability around contested areas. In the late 1960s, Cessna introduced an aircraft that fit that description with its O-2 "Skymaster" series. The model was successful in the field, with 513 produced from 1967 to 1975 and used by organizations such as the United States Air Force (USAF).

The plane was so valuable that the service did not cease in its final form until 2010.

The O-2 is the direct military offshoot of the Commercial Airspace Type 336 and Type 337 Skymaster/Super Skymaster, a light aircraft used in the "air taxi" role, with nearly 3,000 produced. Introduced in 1962, the series enjoys a long and healthy lifespan during flight, with examples still flying today (2020).

Specification

Basics

Years in Service

1967

Origins

United States

Status

Active.

Limited service.

Crew

2

Production

532

Manufacturer

Cessna - USA

Operators

Botswana; Chile; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Ivory Coast; Haiti; Namibia; Solomon Islands; South Korea; South Vietnam; United States; Zimbabwe

Roles

Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scouts

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

29. 8 feet

(9.07m)

Width/span

38. 2 feet

(11.63m)

Height

9. 2 feet

(2.79m)

Cured weight

2,866 lbs

(1,300 kg)

MTOW

5,512 lbs

(2,500 kg)

Wgt Difference

+2,646 lbs

(+1,200 kg)

Performance

Installed:

2 Continental IO-360C 6-cylinder 210hp engines in a "push-pull" configuration - one engine mounted in the nose and the other in the rear of the fuselage.

Maximum speed

200 km/h

(322 km/h | 174 knots)

Maximum

18,012 feet

(5,490 m | 3 km)

Area

1,325 km

(2,132 km | 3,948 nautical miles)

rate of climb

1,180 ft/min

(360 m/min)

Range (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: > 19030

Armament

Armed variant with cannons and missiles for light attacks.