Stinson Vigilant

infobox Aircraft
name = Vigilant
type = Light Observation
manufacturer = Stinson Aircraft Corporation



caption = RAF Stinson Vigilant photographed at Air Fighting Development Unit, Duxford, UK, 1941-42
designer =
first flight =
introduced =
retired =
produced =
number built = 324
status =
unit cost =
primary user = United States Army Air Corps
more users = Royal Air Force
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Stinson Model 74 Vigilant was a 1940s American light observation aircraft built by the Stinson Aircraft Company at Wayne, Michigan (by November 1940 a division of Vultee Aircraft Corporation) [The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), page 1100] . The aircraft was operated by the United States Army Air Corps as the O-49 and after 1942 as the L-1.

Design and development

The Vigilant was designed in response to a United States Army Air Corps requirement for a two-seat light observation aircraft. The Stinson Model 74 was a single radial engined high-wing monoplane with trailing-edge high-lift devices for low speed and high lift performance. Three aircraft were built, with the military designation YO-49 for evaluation against the Bellanca YO-50 and the Ryan YO-51. Stinson was awarded the contract for 142 production aircraft with the designation O-49.

Operational service

The Stinson 0-49 was used in diverse roles such as towing training gliders, artillery spotting, liaison, emergency rescue, transporting supplies, and special espionage flights [ [http://www.ascho.wpafb.af.mil/ARMING/PG-5B.HTM Photo Gallery ] ] . Another contract was later awarded for the O-49A which had a slightly longer fuselage and other equipment changes. In 1942 the aircraft were redesignated the L-1 and L-1A. Eight L-1 and hundred L-1A aircraft were allocated to the British Royal Air Force under the Lend-Lease Act. The RAF designated the aircraft the Vigilant Mk I and Vigilant Mk II. General Harry Crerar, Commander of the First Canadian Army in Europe during World War Two, maintained a Vigilant for his personal use.

Aircraft were modified for a variety of roles including as an ambulance aircraft. No further production orders were placed as the aircraft was replaced by the Grasshopper family of aircraft.

Variants

* Stinson Model 74 - company designation
* O-49 Vigilant - US military designation for first production batch, later to L-1, 142 built.
* O-49A Vigilant - US military designation for second production batch, later to L-1A 182 built.
* O-49B Vigilant - conversion to ambulance version, later L-1B, three conversions.
* L-1 Vigilant - US military designation for first production batch changed from O-49.
* L-1A Vigilant - US military designation for second production batch changed from O-49A.
* L-1B Vigilant - conversion to ambulance version changed from O-49B.
* L-1C Vigilant - conversion to ambulance version with revised interior, one conversion.
* L-1D Vigilant - conversion for glider pick-up training, 21 conversions.
* L-1E Vigilant - conversion of L-1 to ambulance version with float landing gear, seven conversion.
* L-1F Vigilant - conversion of L-1A to ambulance version with float landing gear, five conversions.
* Vigilant Mk I - RAF designation of L-1
* Vigilant Mk II - RAF designation of L-1A
* CQ-2 Vigilant - conversion to target control aircraft

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force;USA
*United States Army Air Corps

pecifications (L-1A)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=American Warplanes of World War II [Donald, David (ed.). "American Warplanes of World War II". London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.]

crew=3
length main= 34 ft 3 in
length alt= 10.44 m
span main= 50 ft 11 in
span alt= 15.52 m
height main= 10 ft 2in
height alt= 3.10 m
area main= 329 ft²
area alt= 30.6 m²
empty weight main= 2670 lb
empty weight alt= 1211 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main= 3400 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1542 kg
engine (prop)=Lycoming R-680-9
type of prop= radial piston
number of props=1
power main= 295 hp
power alt= 220 kW
max speed main= 106 knots
max speed alt= 122 mph, 196 km/h
range main= 243 nm
range alt= 280 mi, 451 km
ceiling main= 12,800 ft
ceiling alt= 3900 m
climb rate main= 408 ft/min
climb rate alt= 124.36 m/min
loading main=10.3 lb/ft²
loading alt=50.4 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.0867 hp/lb
power/mass alt=0.143 kW/kg
armament=

References

* "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)". London: Orbis Publishing.

External links

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=

lists=
*List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
*List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=