REVISED: 12/9/08

Oakland

c.1958: Oakland Airmotive Co, Oakland CA. 1961: Became Bay Aviation.

Centaurus 1958 = 10-16pCmwM rg; load: 14,000# v: x/280/x range: 2000. A considerably refined conversion of Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon for executive use. The prototype [N7436C] was furnished with a divan, conference room, etc.

Super V SEE Bay Aviation.


O'Bannon

(Clyde & Ralph) O'Bannon Brothers, 510 S Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park IL.

31 1931 = 2pOM; 90hp Lambert R-266. POP: 1 [12002] c/n 2; ident revoked after an accident at Janesville WI on 11/13/37. SEE ALSO allied Marsh-O'Bannon.


Ochoa

V L Ochoa, Arlington NJ.

  Ochoa (1909 Fly)

Jersey Devil aka Jersey Mosquito 1908 = 1pOhwM; 12hp water-cooled motor; span: 18'0" length: 7'0". This early creation had two "very large steel flapping wings" covered with fabric, an innovative aft rudder, a six-bladed prop, and appeared in a show at Arlington in May 1909, "but did not fly." One problem might have been with its "collapsible" wing framework, with which the inventor explained in July 1909 Fly, "By reversing the engine, one can back up the monoplane ... into a barn, where it does not occupy as much room as an automobile."


O'Connor

INFORMATION NEEDED
  O'Connor

c.1927 = No data.

Ogden

(Henry H & Perry V) Ogden Aeronautical Corp, 1119 S Market St, Inglewood CA. 1928: Recapitalization and move to Cincinnati OH. 1933: Ended operations.

Osprey PB (aka Pirate) 1930 (ATC 2-295) = PC with three 95hp Menasco B-4. POP: 1 [X150W].

  Ogden Osprey [NR398V] (K O Eckland coll)

Osprey PC (aka C) 1930 (ATC 332, 2-197, 2-340) = 6pChwM; three 90hp ACE La-1 (Cirrus); span: 50'0" length: 34'6" load: 1650# v: 128/102/60 range: 450. Frederick Thearle. Optional 125hp Menasco C-4; load: 1804# v: 135/115/53 range: 440. $16,000; POP: 6 [X187N, NC121W/122W, NC149W/150W NC398V]; (2-197) covered first production models [NC121W, NC398V]; (2-340) for 125hp Menasco C-4 installation. PB's (2-295) also approved installation of 100hp Cirrus on PCs. Prototype [X187N] had 100hp Kinner, replaced by 90hp Cirrus MkIII before flight testing.


O'Hara

Robert O'Hara, San Fernando CA.

1977 = Home-built. 1pOB; 85hp Continental C-85; span: 28'0" length: 18'0" load: 230# v: 95/80/45 range: 350. All-metal fuselage; wood-framed, fabric-covered wings and tail; conventional gear with panted wheels.


Ohio

Ohio Aero Mfg Co (pres: Judd Yoho), Youngstown OH.

  Airmaster Coupe Art from company brochure (Tom Heitzman coll)

Airmaster Coupe 1928 = 3pChwM; 90hp LeBlond 5F; span: 32'9" length: 21'0" load: 500# v: 135/94/42 range: 350. Joseph W Esch. Described as styled after d's Ryan NYP, it actually looked more like an early Monocoupe. $3,000; POP: 1 [568K] c/n AY-5, built by students at subsidiary Ohio Aero School.

Youngster 1928 = 2p Airmaster with 60hp LeBlond 5D; length: 19'9" load: 200#. Side-by-side seating. First tried with 60hp Anzani. $2,375; POP: 2, [7200] c/n A-3 and [X7872] c/n AY4-4, also first as a student project, but advertised in aviation magazines of 1928.


Ohio

Ohio Aviation Research & Development Foundation, no location.

195? = 1pChwM agricultural plane; 115hp; span: 29'0" length: 22'1" load: 624#. Reworked Piper J-3 fuselage and wing with tip plates. The pilot sat in a raised cockpit on top of the wing with a fine view of the countryside.


Ohm & Stoppelbein

Richard Ohm and Gordon Stoppelbein, McLean VA.

  Ohm & Stoppelbein Special [N6H] (K O Eckland coll)

Special 1950 = 1pCmwM; 85hp Continental C-85; span: 18'6" length: 16'3"; ff: 8/x/50. Midget racer [N6H].


Okay

1928: Okay Airplane Co, Okay OK (pres: C N Martin). 1930: Filed for bankruptcy.

  Okay SK-1 [X8862] (wingsoverkansas.com coll)

SK-1 1929 = 3pOlwM; 100hp Kinner K-5; span: 26'0" v: 100. Leland Atwood. POP: 1 [X8862]. Backed by a group of investors, the sport trainer performed well in test flights (p: Fred Herman) but production, as well as development of a 10p transport, was cancelled by financial woes in the Depression.


Oldfield

Barney Oldfield Aircraft Co, Cleveland OH.

Baby Lakes 1954 = 1pOB; 80hp Continental A-80; span: 16'8" length: 13'9" load: 375# v: 135/118/50. 5/8-scale replica of Great Lakes Sport Trainer. Andrew Oldfield. 650 sets of drawings sold and 40 were known to be built by 1982. Later versions were Super Baby Lakes with a 115hp Avco-Lycoming O-235 and 2p Buddy Baby Lakes.


Oleson

Clifton P "Ole" Oleson, IA.

1921 = 1pOB; 80hp Gnôme rotary. A mish-mash of surplus JN-4, Thomas-Morse, and Standard components produced a creation looking not too unlike something the Sopwith factory might have dreamed up. Used by Oleson in exhibition flights around Iowa until magnesium flares, used in night-time shows, ignited as he landed—he barely managed to get out before his ship caught fire. Although the fabric went up in flames, the frame was only scorched and it was rebuilt in 1922.


Oleson

(Tage C and Uffe K) Oleson Aircraft Inc, Wayne MI.

OM-1 Connecticut Yankee 1929 = 2pOlwM; 40hp Anzani SR-3. All-metal; dual control. Also found as having had 60hp Anzani, 90hp Brownback C-400, and 70hp Siemens installed along the way. [492H] c/n 1. Records show it as "abandoned" 11/25/32 and "permanently dismantled" 12/22/32, but sold "less engine" 3/23/35 and a 60hp Anzani installed, then resold 7/22/37. License cancelled 6/3/38. Connection between this and the previous Oleson is unknown. (Thanks to John M Jarratt for chasing down this elusive bird.)


Olsen

1923: Reidar Olsen, Tomahawk WI; c.1926: Chippewa Falls WI. 1927: Olsen Standard Aeroplane Co (OSACO), Tomahawk WI.

1927 = 3-4pOB. Conversions of surplus Curtiss JN-4D with new wings; aka Curtiss-OSACO. POP: about 10.

Monoplane 1927 = 1pOB; 17hp 2-cylinder Harley-Davidson; span: 20'0" length: 14'0" load: 200# v: 70/62/30. Fabric-covered wood construction. Crash-landed on its fifth flight when the motor case cracked.

OSACO 6 1923 = 1pOmwM; 30hp Szekely S-3; span: 27'0" length: 17'0" load: 300# v: 120/108/30. POP: 2, plus a number partially built for sale in kit form for $350. [815N, et al].


Olsen

Gordon L Olsen, Rosamond CA.

Nite Hawk 1982 = 2pClwM; 180hp Avco Lycoming O-360. Empty wt: 900#.

Nite Star 1979 = 2pClwM; 90hp Revmaster 2100; load: 580 v: 190/180/x; ff: 4/x/79.


Olsen-Thomas

(Albert & Lars) Olsen-(Ward) Thomas, Middletown NJ.

Parasol XP 1-40 1929 = 1pOhwM; 40hp Szekely. Described to CAA as "experimenting in the development of light aircraft" at Red Bank NJ airport. [X134N], reg cancelled 9/x/30, no reason given. One reference gave the Olson boys' names of Axel and Lawrence.


Olson

Olson Aircraft Corp, Wilmington NC.

  Olson Ambassador [N1600J] (Aviation Week via Ron Dupas)

Ambassador 1965 = 3-4pClwM; 100hp Continental O-200A; load: 779# v: 142/131/x. Fiberglass-covered, licensed manufacture of French Jodel DR.1050. $9,000 (projected, including avionics); POP: unk.


OMAC

1977: OMAC Inc ("Old Man's Aircraft Company"; fdr: Carl Parise and Larry Heuberger), Reno NV. 1985: Albany GA.

Laser 300 1988 = 7pChwM rg; 750hp P&W Canada PT6A-135A [N301L]; span: 41'6" length: 29'7" load: 3250# v: 291/230/71; ff: 7/29/88. Production version of OMAC 1.

OMAC I 1981 = 6-8pChwM rg canard. Prototype #1: 700hp Avco Lycoming LTP 101-700A-1 pusher; ff: 12/11/81. Prototype #2 [N81PH]: 700hp Garett TPE331-9 pusher; span: 35'0" length: 30'0" load: 2500# v: 299/250/63 range: 2950; ff: 2/19/83.


O'Malley

Thomas H O'Malley, N E Warren OH.

1 Pterodactyl 1934 = 1pOM; 30hp Szekely. [14517].


Omega

1953: Omega Aircraft Corp (fdr: Bernard W Sznycer), New Bedford MA. 19??: Div of Allied Aero Industries Inc, Syracuse NY. 1960: Development ended after loss of backers' support.

  Omega BS-12 [N285B] (Aviation Week via Ron Dupas)

BS-12 1956 = 2pCH; two 210hp Franklin 6AS; rotor: 39'0" (?>36'0") length: 39'1" load: 1400# v: 95/60/0 range: 175 ceiling: 11,500'; ff: 10/29/56 (?>12/26/56). The basic BS-12 was suitable for both cargo and passenger operations in a standard airline pod. Controllability and stability of the aircraft was maintained with the cargo pod directly behind the cabin in the external bay within the aircraft's c/g envelope. Besides eliminating in-flight drag, that allowed the Omega to use the ground cushion effect during take-off and landing. The "flying crane" configuration, which Sznycer pioneered, was also suitable for carrying unwieldy cargo such as pipes, lumber, or other objects in its open cargo bay. In emergency situations, all loads (except the passenger pod) could be jettisoned by explosive bolts. Complete failure of one engine in flight reportedly required no extra piloting technique as operational rpm would be adjusted for by the good engine. $77,500; POP: 1 prototype [N267B] c/n 156.

BS-12B 19?? = Revised BS-12. POP: 1 [N290B] c/n 1001.

  Omega BS-12D-1 (Aviation Week via Ron Dupas)

BS-12D-1 1961 = 5p cabin version with two 260hp Lycoming O-540. POP: 2 [N285B/286B] c/ns 1002/1003.

BS-12D-3 1960 = the second D-1 refitted with a supercharged FrankIin 6AS-335 BS-12F - Projected, not known if built. Two Allison T63 or Boeing 502-W turbines.

BS-12J - Projected, not known if built. Two 290hp Lycoming IO-540; load: 1695#; improved performance at high altitudes and improved single-engine performance.

BS-14 Falcon 1958 = 2pCH; two 260hp Lycoming 0-540 or 290hp IO-540; rotor: 24'0" load: 400# v: 150/x/0. Longer fuselage. Scheduled for police, fire, and ambulance duties. Uncertain if actually built.

BS-17A Airliner - Projected, not known if built. Three Allison or Boeing turbines and 5-blade rotor. Expanded passenger pod.


O M F

OMF Aircraft Inc, Three Rivers, Canada.

2003 - German firm (in Trollhagen) scheduled a factory for American production of their popular series of Symphony personal light aircraft.


Omni Weld

No data.

Questor 1983 = 1pClwM; 37hp Global Machine Tool. No other data.


O'Neil

O'Neil Airplane Co, Carlyle IL.

Magnum V8 Pickup 1984 = 2pChwM; 385hp Ford V8-351-HO; span: 36'0" length: 25'0" load: 2000# v: 185/140/76 range: 800 ceiling: 20,000'. Swing-tail for loading cargo.


O'Neill

Terrence O'Neill, Ft Wayne IN.

Aristocraft II 1963 = 4pChwM; 200hp Lycoming IO-360. Built from parts of the original Waco Aristocraft including the wings, struts, and horizontal tail. Twin fins were retained, but the engine was moved to the nose. Taildragger configuration. POP: 1 [N34219].

Model W 1968 = 6pChwM; 200hp Lycoming IO-360; span: 37'6" length: 26'0" v: 127/109/47 range: 870. A rebuild of Aristocraft II with a single fin and tricycle gear. POP: 1 [N34219]. A more powerful version with a 350hp Page radial engine was planned.

Pea Pod 1963 = 1pCmwM canard; 35hp Kiekhaefer O-4-35 mounted inside the vertical fin; span: 8'0" length: 9'0" load: 220# v (est): 132/115/55 range (est): 350. This odd ship might best be described as a flying barn door with its angular wing of 1.6 aspect ratio. The pilot had a prone position, with most of his body inside the wing. The plane could be carried atop the family auto. Taxi tests were performed, but it reportedly never flew. POP: 1 [N10T].


Ong

1938: (William) Ong Aircraft Corp, 838 Richards Rd, Kansas City MO. 1940: Ong Flying School, Ong Field (ex-Richards Field), Kansas City. 1953: Ended aviation operations and formed Ong Development Co.

  Ong M-32-W [NX19414] (Jan 1939 Sportsman Pilot)

M-32-W Continental 1938 = 4pChwM; 145hp Warner Super Scarab; span: 33'6" load: 925# v: 152/135/52. Manual trailing-edge flaps. POP: 1 [NX19414].


On-Mark SEE Douglas A-26


Option Air

Option Air Reno (pres: Carl D Barlow), Reno NV.

Acapella 100L 1980 = 1pClwM rg; 100p Continental O-200; span: 26'6" load: 496# v: 245/175/81 range: 770. Twin-booms. Repowered 200-S with different wings and engines; [N360CB].

Acapella 200-L 198? = Same as 200-S, but span: 26'6" load: 375#.

Acapella 200-S 1980 = 1pClwM rg; 200hp Avco Lycoming IO-360-A1B; span: 19'6" length: 16'6" load: 458#; prototype ff: 6/6/80 (p: Bill Skiliar). Based on Bede BD-5.


Oregon SEE Yates


Orenco

1914: Ordnance Engineering Co, Long Island NY (armaments); 1916: Aviation Div. 1922: Taken over by Baldwin Aircraft Corp.

A 1917 = Trainer. 2pOB; 105hp 4-cyl Duesenberg; span: 44'0" length: 26'7" v: 74; ff: 2/24/17 (p: Bert Acosta). Single side-by-side cockpit. POP: 2.

  Orenco B [SC33765] (Drina Welch Abel coll)

B 1917 = Fighter. 1pOB; 160hp Gnôme; span: 26'0" length: 18'10" load: 230# v: 135. Etienne Dormoy, Walter H Phipps. POP: 1 [SC33765], Wright Field P-41.

C 1918 = Scout-trainer. 1pOB; 80hp LeRhône; span: 26'0" length: 18'10" v: 102. POP: 6; [33763] as Wright Field P-48.

C-4 Cross Country 1920 = 2pOB; 80hp LeRhône 9C; span: 29'0" (?>30'0") length: 20'0" load: 585# v: 95/x/38 range: 214. POP: 6.

  Orenco D (1920 Flying)

  Orenco D (Aerofiles coll)

D, D-2 1919 = 1pOB; 300hp Wright-Hisso H-3; span: 30'0" length: 21'4" load: 656# v: 147 ceiling: 18,450'. Designed by Army Engineering Div as our first single-seat fighter design, becoming PW-3. POP: 4 prototypes as D [AS40107/40110] (Wright Field P-67, -101, -120), 3 as D-2 with revised tail group in 1920. 50 production aircraft contracted to Curtiss Co as Curtiss-Orenco D [AS63281/63330] (Wright Field P-161, -167).

  Orenco F (Frank Rezich coll)

F 1920 = 1-2pOB; 300hp Wright-Hisso H; span: 38'0" length: 25'2". A modified Tourister for mail use.

  Orenco F-4 (Frank Tallman coll)
  Orenco Tourister Original configuration and owner Earl Daugherty
  Orenco Tourister Mantz mod for film work, fake tail number (K O Eckland)

F-4 Tourister 1920 = 4pOB; 150hp Wright-Hisso A; span: 38'0" length: 24'10" load: 955# v: 100/x/43 range: 290 (data for Hisso). Two side-by-side cockpits. Also noted with 180hp Hisso E.

Its nameplate shows [the Daugherty plane] as c/n 45; however, it is doubtful Orenco made that many. This plane was bought by Daughtery and operated at his field in Long Beach CA—he even got married in the air in it! Later sold to Paul Mantz, who modified it for film work, such as a Vought VE-7 in "Task Force" (1949) and others. It's now (2002) owned by Kermit Weeks. (— Gil Halpin 9/4/02)
H-2 19?? = Military observer. OB.

H-3 Commercial 1920 = OB; two 300hp Wright-Hisso H; span: (upper) 56'0" (lower) 42'0" length: 36'0" load: 2470# v: 140/x/48 range: 422. Design adaption of H-2, but there is no record of its use.

I Sport Boat 1920 = 4pOBF; 150hp Wright-Hisso A pusher; span: (upper) 38'0" (lower) 28'0" length: 24'5" (?>25'9") load: 970# v: 73/x/42 range: 126 . Hulled, twin-tailed, with motor mounted between the wings.

IL-1 1919 = Experimental infantry liaison. 2pOB; 400hp Liberty 12; span: 46'0" length: 32'0". POP: 2 [AS63273/63274] as McCook Field projects P-147 and -168.

  Orenco PT (Drina Welch Abel coll)

PT 19?? = 2pOB. No data.

  Orenco PW-1 [AS64350] (Aerofiles coll)

PW-1, -1A, -1B 1920 = 1pOB; 350hp Packard 1A-1237; span: 32'0" length: 22'6" v: 146. Production of Engineering Division PW-1; Alfred Verville, Virginius E Clark. POP: 2 [AS64350/64351], of which one was modified with Fokker D.7 wings as PW-1A. A third, as PW-1B, was cancelled in 1921.

  Orenco PW-3 [AS64144] (Drina Welch Abel coll)

PW-3 1921 = 1pOB; 320hp Wright-Hisso H; span: 27'9" length: 23'10". POP: 3 developed from D-2 [AS62142/64144], the latter to McCook Field as P-229.


Orme

Harry A Orme, Washington DC.

1908 = 1pOB; 8hp Belgian-make motor chain-driving two propellers with "variable pitch;" span: 18'0". Gross wt: 100#, "not including driver." Horsepower is suspect, but is as shown in Jane's. Vertical rudder aft could "be converted into a flat plane at will;" horizontal rudder in front also acted as a brake (was that really necessary for 8hp?). Over the top wing was a "mushroom-shaped plane on springs, capable of any distortion, intended to act as a bird's tail does," which Orme claimed would "prevent the sudden plunging of the aerial craft to earth if any mishap occurs." Despite that feature, it plunged to earth on 12/25/08 when a loose wire broke the prop, but news report stated it would be repaired and "the tests resumed." No further word was found.


Ort

Daniel J Ort, Dearborn/Detroit MI.

Sport 1928 = 2pOhwM; 65hp Velie. POP: 1 [465] c/n 7735sub; sold to Dearborn Aero Club in 1933. Could be Pietenpol Air Camper?


Ortego

Leo Ortego, Alexandria LA.

INFORMATION NEEDED
1927 = 1pOH. A photo shows small propellers at the tips of two of the four rotor blades, but what made those props turn and why? The inventor generously offered half-interest in patent rights and royalties to anyone who could give financial help in furthering development of this early helicopter, but no lines formed at his doorstep.

OSACO SEE Olson


Osprey SEE Pereira


Ostergaard

Ostergaard Airplane Works, Chicago IL.

INFORMATION NEEDED
1919 = No data. William A Laird.

Ott

Delmar Ott, Napa CA.

Special c.1967 = 2pClwM; two 200hp Rangers; span: 38'0" length: 26'0" v: x/150/x. [N7755C].


Oulette

Albert Oulette, Sanford ME.

Biplane 1910 = 1pOB; 30hp Harriman.


Overcashier

(Francis) Overcashier Airplane Co, 3515 Woodward, Detroit MI. 1929: Midwest Continental Aircraft Corp, 13095 Greeley Ave, Detroit MI.

  Overcashier JN-4 [5414] (Tania Underwood coll)

c.1927 = Curtiss JN-4C modified to some unknown or visible extent. [5414].

O-12 1929 (ATC 2-214) = 3pChwM; 90hp Curtiss OX-5; span: 44'0" length: 33'0" load: 765# v: 105/90/32 range: 400. $3,500; POP: 2 known [NC800N, NC893E], perhaps 2 more unregistered. One appearing at the 1929 Detroit Aircraft Show had span: 40'0" length: 25'0".

Special 1928 = 1p, assumed pattern or prototype for O-12. [X5245] c/n 1.


Overland

1928: Overland Airways Inc, Omaha NB. c.1934: Ended production.

  Overland L [NC10491] (art: K O Eckland)

Model L 1930 (ATC 417) = Sport 60 with 70hp LeBlond 5DE; span: 27'4" length: 17'10" load: 462# v: 100/85/38 range: 300. $1,050; POP: at least 4 [NC506Y, NC972N, NC10491, 15477], the last of which shows c/n 10.

Sport 60 1929 (ATC 2-289) = 2pOB; 55hp Velie M-5 and 60hp LeBlond 5D; span: 27'4" length: 17'10" load: 540#. Harold K Phillips, Wallace Cummings. POP: 3; one with Velie [X92M], and two with LeBlond [X315H, X315V].


Owen

J W Owen, St Louis MO (possibly).

Gyroplane 1912 = Conceptual flying machine described on a stock certificate as a combination of the helicopter principle and an "ordinary monoplane," constructed of steel and aluminum, thus "avoiding the danger of burning up." A prototype was reportedly on exhibition at the St Louis University Campus in 1912. No data found.


Owens

John Sidney Owens, Glenside PA. 1931: Owens Aircraft Co.

c.1929 = 2pOB; a modified Cox-Klemin CK-2B, how much modified is unknown [X1788].

3-B-1 1931 = 3pOB; 140hp Jacobs LA-1. [X10758] c/n 1. Apparently not completed, as CAA inspectors recommended cancellation of reg.


Owl

George Owl, Gardena CA. c.1972: Vin-Del Aircraft.

Racer OR-65-2 1969 = 1pCmwM; span: 16'0" length: 17'5" v: 220+. Pogo built by John Alford [N8787], and Yellow Peril (span: 20'5") built by Ralph Wise [N3269].

Racer OR-70-1 1971 = 1pCmwM; 100hp Continental O-200; span: 20'0" length: 16'4" v: 240+ ff: 9/8/71. Fang built by Bill Warwick (p: Jim Stevenson) [N711BS].

Racer OR-71-1 1972 = 1pCmwM; 100hp Continental O-200; span: 20'0" length: 16'6" v: 250+ ff: 6/6/72. Li'l Quickie built and raced by Vince DeLuca [N1VD].


"Flying is done largely with the imagination." — Wolfgang Langewiesche, author