One of the first military uses of aircraft was for observation of enemy troops. In 1794, the French Aerostatic Corps used a balloon in the Battle of Fleurus. The officers in the balloon dropped notes to the ground and used semaphore to transmit information on the movements of the Austrian Army. In World War I and World War II, airplanes were widely used for observation.
The Yanks Air Museum is located in Chino, California. In 1973, this collection of aircraft began with the acquisition of the Beech Staggerwing and since then the museum has acquired more than 200 aircraft. Many of the aircraft displayed at the museum are one-of-a-kind (usually meaning the last remaining example) and most of them can be flown (notice the dip pans under the airplanes). Shown below are some of the observation aircraft which are on display.
L-5 Sentinel
First produced in 1942, this aircraft became one of the most widely used World War II utility aircraft. Known as the Flying Jeep, it could take-off and land on a short unimproved airstrip. The L-5 carried a pilot and an observer in a tandem-seating configuration. It has a top speed of 130 mph, a cruising speed of 90 mph, and a range of 360 miles.
The L-5 was produced by the Stinson Aircraft Company and was purpose-built for military use (it had no civilian counterpart).
O-52 Owl
First produced in 1940, the was the last heavy observation aircraft purchased by the Army. It has a top speed of 220 mph, a cruising speed of 192 mph, and a range of 700 miles. The O-52 was manufactured by Curtiss-Wright and a total of 203 were built.
F-5g-6-LO Lightning (P-38L)
First produced in 1940 as a twin-engine fighter, the photo version had neither armor or guns. It has a top speed of 420 mph, a cruising speed of 290 mph, and a range of 450 miles. Of the more than 10,000 P-38s built, only 150 were the F-5 photo versions.
More Airplanes
Planes of Fame: British Aircraft (Photo Diary)
Planes of Fame: Some Jet Fighters (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: World War II Bombers (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: The Bone Yard (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: Military Jets (Photo Diary)
Old Airplanes: Beechcraft 18
World War II Aircraft (Photo Diary)
