Curtiss O-40 Raven

Two-Seat Light Observation Biplane Aircraft [ 1933 ]

The Curtiss O-40 Raven biplane aircraft fulfilled the U.S. Army Air Corps role of observation platform during the pre-World War 2 years.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/23/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The O-40 "Raven", offered by American aeroplane-maker Curtiss-Wright, began life as a biplane in its prototype stage. The aircraft was drawn up to fulfill a light-class, over-battlefield observation role for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) during the Inter-War period (that is, the period "between the wars"). The aircraft appeared as this single prototype example under the designation of YO-40 (Curtiss company Model 62) and sat a pilot and an observer in inline open-air cockpits (back-to-back) with construction of the aircraft being largely all-metal. Power was from a single Wright R-1820E "Cyclone" engine carried at the nose, driving a two-bladed propeller. A traditional over-under biplane wing arrangement (known as a "Sesquiplane", with the lower wing member considerably shorter than the upper member) was used while the undercarriage was made to be retractable. Of note was slight sweepback given to the upper wing member.

The first-flight of YO-40 was recorded in 1932 but this specimen was involved in a crash that May. The airframe was, for the most part, salvaged and this delay gave engineers the opportunity to enact changes to improve the design. Work resulted in a reinforced, stronger aircraft that now showcased enclosed cockpits for the crew and the changes were substantial enough to warrant the follow-up designation of "YO-40A". Additional work evolved the design even more, resulting in the complete deletion of the lower wing members and making the YO-40 a true monoplane (though it still retained its high-mounted upper wing member). The aircraft was now reborn through the "Y10-40B" line and this version was powered by a Wright R-1820-27 "Cyclone" 9-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine of 670 horsepower. The USAAC saw enough promise in the reworked design to order four examples based on the new standard.

As completed, the aircraft had an overall length of 28.9 feet, a wingspan of 41.7 feet, and a height of 10.7 feet. Empty weight measured 3,755lb against a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 5,180lb. Power from the Wright engine provided the aircraft with a maximum speed of 188 miles-per-hour, a range out to 325 miles, and a service ceiling up to 23,100 feet. Rate-of-climb was reported at 1,660 feet-per-minute.

Lightly armed by the design, the O-40 carried only two medium machine guns: 1 x 0.30 caliber Browning air-cooled machine gun in a fixed, forward-firing mounting (for the pilot) and a 1 x 0.30 caliber Browning air-cooled machine gun on a trainable mounting in the rear cockpit (for the observer and mainly intended for self-defense).

The aircraft were taken into Army service during June of 1933 and carried the formal designation of O-40B "Raven" for their time in the sky. The line served primarily with the 1st Observation Squadron (established March 1913 and, rather amazingly, still existing today as the "1st Reconnaissance Squadron"). Due to their limited inherent range, only these four models were procured by the service and the line was only operated into 1939. The aforementioned salvaged YO-40A prototype, post-revision, was destroyed back in 1938. As such, no Raven aircraft managed to survive by the time of World War 2 (1939-1945).©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1933

Origin

United States

Status

RETIRED
Not in Service.

Crew

2

Production

5
UNITS

Curtiss-Wright Aeroplane Company - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Length

28.9 ft
(8.80 m)

Width/Span

41.7 ft
(12.70 m)

Height

10.7 ft
(3.25 m)

Empty Wgt

3,759 lb
(1,705 kg)

MTOW

5,181 lb
(2,350 kg)

Wgt Diff

+1,422 lb
(+645 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Curtiss O-40 Raven production variant)

Installed: 1 x Wright R-1820-27 "Cyclone-9" air-cooled radial piston engine developing 670 horsepower and driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Max Speed

190 mph
(305 kph | 165 kts)

Ceiling

22,966 ft
(7,000 m | 4 mi)

Range

323 mi
(520 km | 963 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

1,650 ft/min
(503 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Curtiss O-40 Raven production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

1 x 0.30 caliber machine gun in fixed, forward-firing mounting.
1 x 0.30 caliber machine gun on trainable mounting in rear observer's cockpit.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 0

YO-40 - Prototype model powered by 1 x Wright R-1820E Cyclone engine of 653 horsepower; single example.

YO-40A - Prototype modified with reinforced wing mainplanes; enclosed cockpit added for the crew spaces; destroyed in 1938.

Y1O-40B - Monoplane form; powered by Wright R-1820-27 engine developing 670 horsepower; four examples completed.

O-40B - Redesignation of Y1O-40B developmental form.

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