Does any have top-view of a Navy O-2A?

mgr

mgr

SOH-CM-2023
Hiya,

Researching for a Navy (VFA-125 range control) repaint of the O-2A (cessna 337). Failed to find any pictures of the top wings. Side shots seems to suggest they are painted white (and not blue).

vfa_125_o_2a_by_f16crewchief-d3h3cm1.jpg


Note the white behind the wings and begin of the tailbooms.

4458118889_0c42e1d389_z.jpg


Also the inlet on top and top fuselage seems to be white.

Anyone knows?

Thx,

Marcel
 
Hiya Matt,

Matt Wynn said:
Looks to be wraparound stripes on the blue, just the inlet being white...
Click to expand...

Problem is that there are several "fake" navy liveries around, which so no white at all on the upper fuselage and/or tail boom.

This is what i mean, clearly show big front part of the tailboom are white, seems to suggest that also a part of the upper wings are white, maybe only the part between the fuselage and the tailbooms??


4724.jpg


Marcel
 
The only blue aircraft that I know the Navy has had since the 50s are the Blue Angels. The Navy only had a few O-2s and the pics I've seen were white with orange bits much like a trainer.
 
Hi willy,

Willy said:
The only blue aircraft that I know the Navy has had since the 50s are the Blue Angels. The Navy only had a few O-2s and the pics I've seen were white with orange bits much like a trainer.
Click to expand...

You are referring to the
[FONT=ARIAL, Helvetica, Geneva]Cessna O-2A Pelican -> [/FONT]http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/6/3/1611364.jpg

I'm referring to these:
Following the Vietnam War, the O-2 continued to operate with both U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard units well into the late 1980s. Six former USAF O-2A airframes were also transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1983 for use as "range controllers" with Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122), the Pacific Fleet Replacement Squadron for the A-7 Corsair II at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. These same aircraft were later transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the F/A-18 Hornet FRS at NAS Lemoore, in 1986 for use in the same range control role.[SUP][4][/SUP]
The six Navy O-2A's remained in this role until September 1990, when they were replaced by T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft transferred from the Naval Air Training Command.
Click to expand...
 
Marcel,
Obviously you have already found the pics that are available online. I suggest you send an email to the Emil Buehler Library at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola: ebuehler.navalaviation@mchsi.com
Give them the VA-122/VFA-125 service background of the planes and maybe they have a top view photo in their collection. There is no cost involved for them to email you the pics. They do this as part of the services they provide to the general public. When I visited the museum last November they were very helpful in providing me with photos of aircraft from NAS Glenview.
 
I have an unbuilt Testor's kit of the O-2 from a few years ago. There was a light blue with yellow Navy scheme in the decal mix. It would have included a top view but even they probably didn't have as much reference images as have been posted above. If I can find it quickly I'll scan it and post it. But it's somewhere out in the garage so who knows?

In the meantime found a description of the kit that says decals are included for O-2A NJ/591 721318 of VFA-125. They suggest "Ford Engine Light Blue" for the main color.
:ernae:
 
Everyone, thanks for the suggestions and thinking with me.

At the moment taking the estimated guess that the white is the same as some USAF O-2A had, after all these were ex-USAF bird and would sound logical that they replaced the Grey with blue and left the white.

Result looks something like this (on Carenado's Cessna 337):

nj5911.png


nj5912.png


Marcel
 
Marcel, I think that looks great. The white area on the top of the wing is a reasonable assumption considering the planes were used as range spotters, good for visibility.
 
Update: got some photo's of the real "591" in restoration with the Connecticut Air and Space Center.

nj591real.png


Show that the yellow band also run across the white top of the wings. The repaint is changed accordingly and give this result:

nj591.png


Will be release soon.

Marcel


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top