YOA-5 | |
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Role | Seaplane bomber |
Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
First flight | 1935 |
Introduction | 1935 |
Retired | 1943 |
Status | Prototype |
Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
Number built | 1 |
Developed from | Douglas XP3D |
The Douglas YOA-5 was an amphibious aircraft designed for the United States Army Air Corps, based on the Navy's Douglas XP3D.[1] Although a prototype was built, it did not enter production.
In November 1932, the U.S. Army ordered the development of an amphibious reconnaissance aircraft/bomber, intended to act as navigation leaders and rescue aircraft for formations of conventional bombers. The resultant aircraft, which was ordered under the bomber designation YB-11, was designed in parallel with the similar but larger Douglas XP3D patrol flying boat for the United States Navy. It was a high-winged monoplane with two Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engines mounted in individual nacelles above the wing, resembling an enlarged version of the Douglas Dolphin.[2]
Prior to completion, it was redesignated firstly as an observation aircraft YO-44 and then as the YOA-5 'observation amphibian model 5'.[3] It first flew during January 1935, and was delivered to the army during February that year.[2] The concept for which it was designed proved impracticable, and no further production ensued, but the YOA-5 was used to set two world distance records for amphibians, being finally scrapped in December 1943.[4]
Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament