The Oldershaw O-2, officially registered as the Oldershaw Jana-Linn O-2, is an American high-wing, single-seat, V-tailed glider designed and built by Vernon Oldershaw of Bakersfield, California.
Design and Development
The O-2 was designed by Oldershaw to compete with Dick Johnson's Ross-Johnson RJ-5. It is constructed entirely of wood, with a 49.2 ft (15 m) span wing employing a NACA 63(3)-618 airfoil at the wing root and a NACA 63(2)-615 at the wing tip. The wing is equipped with dive brakes, and the landing gear consists of a retractable monowheel. Only one O-2 was ever built.
Operational History
The O-2 first flew in 1961 and was flown by Oldershaw in the 1962 and 1963 US Nationals. The aircraft made a number of flights in excess of 200 mi (322 km), including one of 294.6 mi (474.1 km). Oldershaw later sold the aircraft to Don Gaede of Torrance, California, and it was reportedly still being actively flown in the 1980s. Gaede remodeled the cockpit and introduced a new nose shape. The O-2 was later donated to the US Southwest Soaring Museum, where it remains on display.
Specifications (O-2)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in (15 m)
- Wing area: 108 sq ft (10.0 m²)
- Aspect ratio: 22.4:1
- Airfoil: Root: NACA 63(3)-618; Tip: NACA 63(2)-615
- Empty weight: 520 lb (236 kg)
- Gross weight: 780 lb (354 kg)
Performance
- Maximum glide ratio: 39:1 at 67 mph (108 km/h)
- Rate of sink: 131 ft/min (0.67 m/s) at 55 mph (89 km/h)
- Wing loading: 7.2 lb/sq ft (35 kg/m²)
Variant
A related design, the Oldershaw O-3, was also developed.
References
- Activate Media (2006). "O-2 Oldershaw". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012.
- Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, p. 51. Soaring Society of America, November 1983.
- US Southwest Soaring Museum. "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders".
