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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2213.PDF
OCTOBER 22ND, 1942 IEIR 1 CHARACTERISTICS VOUGHT-SIKORSKY KINGFISHER ' I AHE Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher, of which there is a landplane and a single-float seaplane version, was first delivered to Great Britain last year, having been ordered from America in September, 1939. Its chief func tion is that of general-purpose two-seater Navy observation and reconnaissance aircraft, the floatplane version being designed for catapulting, and the landplane for operation from aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy Kingfisher I is known as the OS2U-1, and is fitted with a Pratt and Whitney nine-cylinder Wasp Junior SB-2 radial engine, while the Fleet Air Arm King fisher is the OS2U-3, and is powered by the Wasp Junior R-985 radial engine giving 450 h.p. for take-off at 5,000ft. The export version of the OS2U-1 for other Allies is known as the VS-310, but this and the American and British ver sions of the Kingfisher are the same as regards general «yout and dimensions. It has an all-metal monocoque fuselage of riveted and spot-welded construction. The panels of the metal skin ar e reinforced by spot-welded stiffeners, and are riveted to two upper longerons and one keel member. The centre section of the cantilever mid-wing is integral with the fuselage, the outer panels tapering on the trailing- edge only. They are of the single-spar type having a " D' '-shaped metal leading-edge for resisting torsional stresses. The tailplane is unusual in plan, in that it has a rectangular centre-section from which it tapers sharply on both edges to small round tips, and, in some contrast to the wings, is of high aspect-ratio. The wing aft of the main spar, and all control surfaces, are fabric-covered. A fixed undercarriage of the split type is employed on the land version, the oleo legs (each of which forms one mem ber of a tripod) being of streamlined shape, though no fair ing is provided for the wheels. , In the seaplane version, the single float is mounted on two tandem struts, with wire cross-bracing to the fuselage " keel," and fixed wing-tip stabilising floats are employed. Top speeds are 200 m.p.h. and 190 m.p.h. for land and sea types respectively at 6,500ft. An unofficial report suggests that newer versions of the Kingfisher now on order may have a diesel type radial engine in place of the Wasp Junior.
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