- Ryan YO-51 Dragonfly
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YO-51 Dragonfly 
Role Army observation Manufacturer Ryan Aeronautical First flight 1940 Primary user U.S. Army Air Force Number built 3 The YO-51 Dragonfly was a United States prototype observation aircraft built for the US Army by Ryan Aeronautical. Typical for aircraft of its type, it was a high-wing braced parasol wing monoplane with fixed tailwheel undercarriage, a two-seat open cockpit, and full-span slots and Fowler flaps for STOL capability.
At gross weight, the YO-51 could, without flaps, take off after a run of 400 feet, while with full flaps the take off run would be only 75 feet, or just four feet more than twice its own length.[1]
Three examples were purchased for evaluation against the Stinson YO-49 and Bellanca YO-50. The Stinson machine won the production contract and no further YO-50s were built.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: two, pilot and observer
- Length: 35 ft 6 in (10.51 m)
- Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
- Gross weight: 4206 lb (1908 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-21 Wasp Junior radial, 440 hp (328 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 129 mph (208 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 107 mph (172 km/h)
See also
YO-51 on the ground
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Stinson YO-49
- Bellanca YO-50
- Related lists
References
- Notes
- ^ Fowler, Harlan Davey (1948). Fowler flaps for airplanes: an engineering handbook. Los Angeles: Wetzel Publishing Co.. p. 79.
- Bibliography
- Donald, David (1997). Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Orbis Publishing Ltd. pp. 794. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
- O-51 Dragonfly Info, "Dave's Warbirds"
External links
- Photos of Ryan YO-51 at San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives
Aircraft produced by Ryan Aeronautical USAAC/USAAF observation aircraft Observation O-1 • O-2 • XO-3 • XO-4 • O-5 • O-6 • O-7 • O-8 • O-9 • XO-10 • O-11 • O-12 • O-14 • XO-14 • XO-15 • XO-16 • O-17 • XO-18 • O-19 • YO-20 • XO-21 • O-22 • YO-23 • O-24 • O-25 • Y1O-26 • Y1O-27 • O-28 • O-29 • O-30 • O-31 • O-32 • Y1O-33 • O-34 • O-35 • XO-36 • O-37 • O-38 • O-39 • O-40 • Y1O-41 • O-42 • O-43 • XO-44 • O-45 • O-46 • O-47 • XO-48 • O-49 • YO-50 • YO-51 • O-52 • O-53 • YO-54 • YO-55 • O-56 • O-57 • O-58 • O-59 • O-60 • XO-61 • O-62 • XO-63
Observation Amphibian Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Ryan aircraft
- United States military reconnaissance aircraft 1940–1949
- Single-engine aircraft
- 1940s aircraft stubs
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