Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly
| YO-51 Dragonfly | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Army observation and liaison |
| Manufacturer | Ryan Aeronautical |
| First flight | 1940 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 3 |
TheRyan YO-51 Dragonflywas anobservation aircraftdesigned and built byRyan Aeronauticalfor theUnited States Army Air Corps(USAAC). A single-enginedparasol wingmonoplane,it was designed for optimumSTOLcapability, but although three prototypes proved highly successful in testing, theStinson YO-49was judged superior and no production contract was placed.
Design
[edit]The design of the YO-51 Dragonfly was typical for aircraft of its type, being optimised for the observation and liaison role, with emphasis on the ability to operate out of the smallest possible airfields.[1]The Dragonfly was a high-wing bracedparasolmonoplanewith fixed tailwheellanding gear,a two-seat open cockpit, and full-spanslotsandFowler flapsforSTOLcapability.[2]It was powered by a singlePratt & Whitney R-985-21 Wasp Juniorradial engine.[3]
At gross weight, the YO-51 could, without flaps, take off after a run of 400 feet, while with full flaps the takeoff run would be only 75 feet, or just four feet more than twice its own length.[4]The Dragonfly was capable of maintaining level flight at speeds as low as 30 miles per hour (48 km/h),[5]and was claimed as being capable of landing in a distance shorter than the length of the aircraft itself.[6]
Operational history
[edit]Nicknamed the "flying motorcycle",[7]three YO-51 aircraft were acquired by the United States Army Air Corps to take part in afly-offevaluation against theStinson YO-49andBellanca YO-50to supply a new observation and liaison aircraft for use by the USAAC.[8]The YO-51 was the heaviest of the three aircraft evaluated.[9]
Although the Dragonfly was considered satisfactory during its flight testing,[10]conducted atWright Fieldin Ohio,[11]the Stinson machine won the production contract, and no further YO-51s were built.[12]
Specifications
[edit]
Data fromDonald 1997[3]
General characteristics
- Crew:two (pilot and observer)
- Length:35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
- Wingspan:52 ft (16 m)
- Height:11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)
- Gross weight:4,206 lb (1,908 kg)
- Powerplant:1 ×Pratt & Whitney R-985-21 Wasp Juniorradial,440 hp (330 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed:129 mph (208 km/h, 112 kn)
- Cruise speed:107 mph (172 km/h, 93 kn)
- Stall speed:30 mph (48 km/h, 26 kn)
Armament
- None
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Bellanca YO-50
- Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
- Henschel Hs 126
- Kokusai Ki-76
- Polikarpov Po-2
- Repülőgépgyár_Levente_II
- Stinson L-1 Vigilant
Related lists
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^Penfield 1941, p.31.
- ^Foottit, H. R. (February 1942). "The Fowler Flap".Flying and Popular Aviation.30(2). Chicago: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co.: 71.
- ^abDonald 1997, p.794.
- ^Fowler 1948, p.79.
- ^Rowe 2006, p.22.
- ^Wilson, Gill Robb (July 1954). "Genealogy of American Aircraft".Flying.55(1). Chicago: Ziff-Davis Publishing Co.: 23.
- ^"U. S. Army's" Flying Motorcycle "".The Boston Globe.Boston, MA. May 25, 1941. p. C1.
- ^Pattillo 2001, p.137.
- ^Adcock 2005, p.5.
- ^"The Dragonfly---Army's Newest Observation Plane".The Milwaukee Sentinel.Milwaukee, WI. February 23, 1940. p. 2.
- ^"Army Tests New B-17C".The New York Times.New York. November 17, 1940.Retrieved2012-08-11.
- ^Merriam 2002, p.26.
- Bibliography
- Adcock, Al (2005).US Liaison Aircraft in action.Aircraft in Action. Vol. 195. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications.ISBN978-0897474870.
- Donald, David (1997).Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.London: Orbis Publishing Ltd.ISBN0760705925.
- Fowler, Harlan Davey (1948).Fowler Flaps for Airplanes: An engineering handbook.Los Angeles: Wetzel Publishing Co.ASINB0007EA17Q.
- Merriam, Ray, ed. (2002).World War II Journal #15: U.S. Military Aircraft of World War II.Bennington, VT: Merriam Press.ISBN1576381676.
- Pattillo, Donald M. (2001).Pushing the Envelope: The American Aircraft Industry.Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.ISBN978-0472086719.
- Penfield, Thomas (1941).Wings for America: Fighting Planes of the U. S. A.Chicago: Rand McNally & Co.ASINB004BVUSC4.
- Rowe, Frank Joseph (2006).The Helio Courier Ultra C/stol Aircraft: An Illustrated Developmental History.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.ISBN978-0786422890.
External links
[edit]
- O-51 Dragonflyat Dave's Warbirds