Doyle O-2 Oriole

The Doyle Aero O-2 Oriole or Doyle O-2 was a parasol wing aircraft.[1]

O-2 Oriole
Role Light aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Doyle Aero Corporation
Designer Harvey Doyle, Raymond Crowley
First flight 15 October 1928
Number built 7

Development

Brothers Harvey and Wilson Doyle designed the Vulcan American Moth Monoplane in 1928.[2] They left the Vulcan Aircraft Company after a disagreement with its founder and moved to Baltimore Maryland with backing from Lawyer Charles Baldwin. They set to work on a new monoplane, with test pilot Otto Melamet flying the prototype O-2 Oriole on 15 October 1928.

Design

The O-2 is a parasol wing, conventional landing gear, strut-braced, tandem-seat, open cockpit, sport aircraft. The fuselage is constructed of welded steel tubing with an aluminum turtledeck and belly covers, covered with fabric. The wing uses wooden spars and ribs with the fuel tanks the wing roots. A small door provided access to the front seat.[3]

Operational history

Serial number 2 and 3 were wrecked en route to the All-American airshow in Detroit to demonstrate the aircraft. Serial number 5 was rushed to completion to be trucked to the event. The same aircraft was restored in 1987 and still is airworthy with a private owner.[4]

Variants
O-3 Oriole
O-2 modified with a 120 hp (89 kW) Chevrolair D-4 engine

Specifications (O-2 Oriole)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 1
  • Length: 19 ft (5.8 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Empty weight: 780 lb (354 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,280 lb (581 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × LeBlond 5DE Radial, 65 hp (48 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 89 kn (102 mph, 164 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 74 kn (85 mph, 137 km/h)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Aviation: cover. 16 March 1929. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Aeronautics: 101. June 1929. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Harvey Doyle (March 1987). "A New Date With An Old Love". Sport Aviation.
  4. Harvey Doyle (March 1987). "A New Date With An Old Love". Sport Aviation.
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