Army O-2 (not Air Force)

Paul Sharp · #1 09-23-02, 10:26 PM

Just saw an O-2 at SLC Int'l out in front of Million Air, with "Yuma Test" Base (or Site or something like that) on it. S/N was 67-21414. Tail Number was 0-21414.

Pretty paint, etc.; white with red and front top engine cowling in black. U.S. Army painted on it.

Had what looked like a lot of original avionics in it, and a fairly big set of test equipment, some of which was covered with zip-up fabric covers.

Saw a radar altimeter and other such stuff. Had some sort of downward-looking light about where you'd normally expect a radar pod to be, but on the left wing. Other electronics that weren't obvious (at least to me) were in it.

Don't know if there were "official" Army models or if they got one from the Air Force and painted it with their info. Nice looking bird, at any rate.

Mitch Taylor · #2 09-24-02, 11:02 AM

They were all originally Air Force, but they got passed around after Vietnam to nearly anyone who wanted them. I knew someone a few years ago who said they had the last ones still in military service up at Edwards.

Mitch
67-21309

Paul Sharp · #3 09-26-02, 10:15 PM

I was over to Wendover today, and there is another one just like the first I say, S/N 67-21349. Painted exactly the same with same electronics in the back, etc.

They must be doing something in the army with them - possibly doing test of chemical leaks or whatever or possibly security work, given the light on the wing. These are definitely military, and definitely Army.

OSCARDEUCE · #4 10-01-02, 01:08 AM

Hi,
for a good source on the O2 and other cessna warbirds read walt shiel's book. it is availible at www.cessnawarbirds.com

skymstr02 · #5 10-01-02, 07:46 AM

Attached are a couple of pics of an Army O-2A from Ft Huachuca, Arizona, its a 67 model 414.

Dave
68-11055
"VietCong Hunting Club"

Paul Sharp · #6 10-02-02, 03:55 PM

Don Neisser says the two Army O2's I saw are the last two doing any active service in U.S. Military.

Paul Sharp · #7 10-04-02, 02:04 PM

And I think the picture you sent is the same bird as one of the two I've been seeing/talking about tha now has "Yuma Proving Ground" on them.

AussieO2 · #8 12-01-10, 08:20 PM

Here is a list of more ARMY O-2's:- 67-21349 as N679EP, 67-21414 as N674EP (Both recently retired from service at Yuma., 68-6903 and 68-11158 are both at Yuma and used as 'spares' a/c for the previous two listed. Refer separate thread.
68-11163 was noted at Fort Huachuca, 'on the dump' in 1994, and
Two were utilised in Europe and based at Berlin:- 68-11149 and 68-11150, transferred to ARMY on 20 DEC 1974 and served until being replaced by Turbo-Porters in 1979. 11149 was sold civil to Georgia Historical Aviation Museum as registered as N8481L (present whereabouts unknown) and 11150 was sold civil as N409TH. This a/c is in the original ARMY colors and was recorded on 22 May 2010 as flying from Goose Bay to Reykavjik !! so heading overseas...nothing reported on this bird since (present whereabouts unknown). It is commonly reported on the 'net' that there was a third, 11151, this is incorrect as being with ARMY, but was in Berlin with the other two, crashed 06 SEPT 1974, prior to the transfer to ARMY.