- Oldershaw O-3
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O-3 Role Glider and later motor glider National origin United States Designer Vernon Oldershaw Status Out of production Number built Two Developed from Oldershaw O-2 The Oldershaw O-3 is an American high-wing, single seat, V-tailed glider that was designed by Vernon Oldershaw. Two examples were constructed as gliders and then both were later converted to motor gliders.[1][2]
Contents
Design and development
The O-3 was designed by Oldershaw as an improved version of the O-2 to complete in the FAI Open Class. As such it had longer and higher aspect ratio wings of 54 ft (16.5 m) span.[1][2]
The O-3 is constructed of wood, with the nose made from fibreglass. Its wing employs a Wortmann 61-184 airfoil at the wing root, with a Wortmann 60-126 at the wing tip. The wing is equipped with trailing edge dive brakes. The landing gear is a retractable monowheel.[1][2][3]
Both aircraft were constructed as pure gliders and then later motorized with the addition of a twin-cylinder, in-line Yamaha snowmobile engine. The engine is mounted behind the wing spar on a pylon that retracts forward into a bay closed by two doors. The power is transmitted through a belt-drive to a two-bladed propeller. The pylon can be deployed in eight seconds and uses the electric motor from a Ford Thunderbird window winder. The Yamaha powerplant gives a take-off roll of 1,000 ft (305 m) at an elevation of 500 ft (152 m) and produces a climb rate of 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s).[1][2]
Operational history
The first O-3 was flown by Oldershaw in several US National contests and Oldershaw completed his distance diamond in the aircraft with a flight of 431 mi (694 km).[2]
Oldershaw's O-3 was listed by the Federal Aviation Administration as destroyed and removed from the register in July 1999. The US Southwest Soaring Museum lists it as being part of their collection.[4][5]
O-3 serial number 2 was built by Carlton Kibler of Porterville, California and officially registered as a Fry-Kibler O3A Renigade in 1979. In May 2011 the aircraft was still on the FAA registry.[2][6]
Aircraft on display
- US Southwest Soaring Museum[4]
Specifications (O-3)
Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Wingspan: 54 ft (16 m)
- Wing area: 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 23.54:1
- Airfoil: Root Wortmann 61-184, Tip: Wortmann 60-126
- Empty weight: 760 lb (345 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 41:1 at 67 mph (108 km/h)
- Rate of sink: 131 ft/min (0.67 m/s) at 56 mph (90 km/h)
- Wing loading: 8.0 lb/sq ft (39 kg/m²)
See also
- Related development
- Related lists
References
- ^ a b c d e Activate Media (2006). "O-3 Oldershaw". http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?PlaneID=251. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 51. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
- ^ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". http://swsoaringmuseum.org/collection.htm. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (May 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=2560B. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (May 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=25888. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
External links
Vernon Oldershaw sailplanes O-2 · O-3Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- United States sailplanes 1960–1969
- Homebuilt aircraft
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