Vought OS2U Kingfisher

what is it?

The Vought OS2U Kingfisher is a catapult-launched observation floatplane designed and produced by the American aviation company Vought. It was the primary shipboard observation seaplane operated by the United States Navy (USN) during World War II, Designed as a successor to biplane observation aircraft then in use with the USN, the Kingfisher was a compact mid-wing monoplane furnished with a large central float and compact stabilizing floats. In addition to the standard float arrangement, it could also be furnished with wheeled, taildragger landing gear.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · mid wing · single float with outriggers · 10.9 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 275 km/htop speed
• size 2,722 kgmax take-off weight
• built 1,519made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 88 years ago, in 1938.
• 🏎️Top speed is 2.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 10.9 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1938-03-01

introduced

1940

retired

1947

status

retired

number built

1,519

role

observation floatplane

origin

🇺🇸 United States

makers

Vought, Naval Aircraft Factory

engines

1× Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN2 Wasp Junior

crew

2

length

10.2 m

wingspan

10.9 m

height

4.5 m

max take-off weight

2,722 kg

top speed

275 km/h

cruise speed

245 km/h

range

—

ceiling

5,547 m

wings

mid wing

landing gear

single float with outriggers

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.