charlespattison Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 Need to get one of these started and wanted to find examples of warloads for these FACs. I've seen gray, standard SEA camo, and all black paint schemes. Any particular warload/paint scheme to be aware of? Did some models even carry a 7.62mm mini-gun? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I think most of what you're going to find is just the 2/.75" rocket pods for firing WP target markers. These may be worth a look: http://home.earthlink.net/~aircommando1/ http://www.skymaster.org.uk/default.asp http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.../AirOps/O2.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pingu1 Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 The old Airfix 1/72 O-2 had a choice of 2.75" rocket pods and Minigun pods. A quick waddle round the web confirms both of these, and small bombs (flares?) as well. http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/AirOps/O2.html http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/images/o2inflight.jpg Cheers, Chris. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sbell95 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 The OV 2's in the units I saw just had smoke rocket pods. Check out this site http://www.warbirdregistry.org/o2registry/o2registry.html I've built the Testers 1/48 kit :unsure: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charlespattison Posted February 15, 2007 Author Share Posted February 15, 2007 Many thanks guys - very helpful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RSV1000R Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 (edited) The first thing to note is that there were two versions of the O-2 used by the USAF (in Vietnam). The O-2A was a military aircraft designed specifically for the FAC role. This featured a military interior, military avionics (including a large radio rack in the rear of the cabin), weapon stations on the wing and extra windows/glazing in the roof panel and door to aid with visability. O-2As often lacked the spinner caps but there are examples of O-2As with these fitted. The O-2B was essentially a Cessna-337 (Civilian) with a loudspeaker fitted to the starboard rear fuselage and a leaflet dispensing chute in the rear cabin. These aircraft had a largely unchanged civilian interior and lacked some of the O-2As avionics. They also lacked the extra glazing and weapons capability. In a similar way to the O-2A, the B often did have spinner caps but I'm sure there are some photos showing these removed too! The camouflage schemes used on the O-2Aduring the war were the "Day FAC" scheme of grey with a white upper wing and the "Night FAC" scheme of overall black with red markings. The "SEA" scheme was carried only by the O-2B however I believe some O-2Bs carried the "Day FAC" scheme as well! As for weapon loads, I have the O-2A pilots notes and they list possible underwing stores as(I dont have it to hand so I'm not 100% on some of the designations): -LAU-68 7 Shot rocket FFAR pod (White Phos normally). -SUU-11 7.62mm Minigun pod. -Twin FFAR pod (as per the O-1 Birdog) -Flare Pod (Normally seen on the "Night FAC" aircraft) As mentioned the O-2B didn't posses a weapons capability. I have read in "Cessna Warbirds" that the use of the SUU-11 was outlawed after a couple of months owing to high loses whilst employing it (Not surprising!) and I've not seen many pictures taken in Vietnam showing the Minigun in use. A couple of pics: O-2B: http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/database/...age.php?id=3289 http://home.att.net/~JKGordon/Tigerhound/pic018.jpg O-2A http://home.att.net/~JKGordon/Tigerhound/pic016.jpg HTH, Cheers, Ed Edited February 15, 2007 by eddygrantham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oscardeuce Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 (edited) I know I'm jumping on an old thread, but seeing as I have a personal interest in this, here's my reply. Standard Load out for an O2-A on a FAC mission would be: 14 WP 2.75 " rockets. As many as 28 could be carried in 4 7 round launchers. Every once in a while some HE were snuck in but this was frowned upon by the REMF's. The gun pods were removed ( what were they thinking giving frustrated fighter jocks machine guns anyway?) Due to the losses, and keeping the pilots "on mission" Flares were carried by the Night FACs, some known by the Sleepytime callsign. The O2-B saw action first as they were off-the-shelf Cessna 337 Skymasters, with simple mods for the speaker, and the leaflet chute in the belly. The O2-A was modified with a 3rd spar in the wing along with hardpointsx4. A wider chord elevator for a heavier feel, which military pilots were more used to. The obvious extra plexi and the TACAN IFF, UHF/VHF/FM radios. Some O2-A's had steel runners on the belly to minimize damage in case of a wheels up landing due to combat damage. Despite adding around 800 lbs the engines remained the same, earning the O-2A the affectionate moniker "Sky Pig". There is NO ARMOR in either the A or B models I do not know of any O2-A's made with spinners. Mine was modified with a bomb drop computer just below the primers, anf the IFF moved in front of the co pilot. Also, rear-view mirros were added in Viet Nam ( I have the original orders for their installation). Why these mods were doen I do not know. If you look at the picture link from the MAPS air museum that is me flying. She served in combat over 3000 hours and has 6 small arms bullet holes. I'll be happy to answer any further questions. Edited November 3, 2007 by oscardeuce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PONCHO001 Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Hi there guys: I am a newcomer here and BTW looking for O 2 B info, I have found this tread and made me get registered inmediatelly, thank you for the friendship in sharing info and things here. I was reading the OscarDeuce answer and would like if him or anyone of you here can tell me some things about the interior of this model: where to put the leaflet chutes and other accessories, as well as the number of seats I have to put inside,positions and seat type I have to use, just to make my ARII O2 model as better as I could. Cheers from Guatemala, and thank you very much in advance, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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