Cessna O-2A

In 1967, when the US Air Force went looking for a twin-engine forward observation aircraft to replace the O-1 Bird Dog, Cessna proposed their 337 Skymaster, already in production as a civilian twin. The O-2B was essentially an off-the-shelf Skymaster with extra radio gear in place of the rear seat. The push-pull retractable twin was rugged, reliable, and easy to fly. Its good single-engine performance allowed it to continue flying if one engine was damaged by enemy fire-a quality that endeared it to pilots.

The first O-2 (an O-2B) was deployed at Da Nang in January 1967. Air Force pilots dubbed it the "Mixmaster" (after a popular American kitchen appliance). Cessna built 532 O-2s before production ended in 1970.

Several O-2Bs were equipped with leaflet dispensers and a large audio speaker mounted in the baggage compartment door. These unarmed O-2Bs (called "Bullshit Bombers.") carried "psy-ops" (psychological warfare) messages to enemy troops.

The O-2A, introduced a few months later, had a beefed-up airframe, extra glass on the right side of the fuselage and overhead, and hard points for mounting rocket launchers and other ordinance. As Forward Air Control aircraft, they scouted and marked enemy targets with white phosphorus ("Willy-Pete") rockets coordinated air attacks, and reported target damage. Flown by a single pilot/observer, the O-2A was very successful in the FAC role until it was replaced late in the Vietnam War by the larger and faster OV-10 Bronco. Today, O-2s are popular among warbird collectors.

Testors� offers a nice plastic kit in 1.48 scale. With its 38-ft wingspan, the "Mixmaster" would make a dramatic paper model in 1/33 scale, and a nice companion to Emil Zukov's 1/33 OV-10 kit

Engine: Two 210 hp Continental 10-360C engines
Wing Span: 38 ft. 2 in.
Length: 29 ft. 9 in.
Height: 9 ft. 4 in.
Max Weight: 4360 pounds
Max Speed: 199 MPH
Ceiling: 20,500 feet
Range: 800 miles
Armament: Smoke rockets or 7.62 mm Mini Gun Pod
Crew: 1

(David Sakrison was the editor of CESSNA OWNER Magazine from 1990 to 1994.)

Restored O2A photographed at an airshow. Note the window in the passenger door, cheek, and roof.

O2A at the USAF Museum, Dayton, Ohio. The -A had door and cheek windows on the right side only.

A closeup of the fuselage side and munitions hardpoint.

Overhead view taken in Vietnam. Note the roof windows and black anti-glare paint on the nose. This aircraft was hit by small arms ground fire as the photo was being taken.