Vought  O2U-1 "Corsair", 1926

The Vought O2U-1 was a scout and observation biplane.

Powered by 400 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine,  2 O2U-1 were ordered by the United States Navy in 1926. It had an efficient metal structure and fuselage of steel tubing with cheek fuel tanks moulded to the skin. Many were seaplanes or amphibians.

In 1927, 130 more O2U-1 were ordered with a fixed 7.62 mm machine gun and a second one on a scarff ring in the rear cockpit. A bombload of 136 kg could be carried.

The Corsair served efficiently with the United States Marine Corps during the Nicaraguan action in 1927-28. Corsairs also served on the Carrier USS Langley (CV-1) .

Vought would use the Corsair name again for with the F4U fighter in 1938 and the A-7 attack bomber in 1963.

Artwork by Hubert Cance. Graphic by Ugo Crisponi
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