Oldershaw O-3

The Oldershaw O-3 is an American high-wing, single seat, V-tailed glider that was designed by Vernon Oldershaw. Two examples were constructed as gliders and then both were later converted to motor gliders.[1][2]

O-3
Role Glider and later motor glider
National origin United States
Designer Vernon Oldershaw
First flight June 1967
Status Out of production
Number built Two
Developed from Oldershaw O-2

Design and development

The O-3 was designed by Oldershaw as an improved version of the O-2 to complete in the FAI Open Class. As such it had longer and higher aspect ratio wings of 54 ft (16.5 m) span.[1][2]

The O-3 first flew in June 1967.[3] It is constructed of wood, with the nose made from fibreglass. Its wing employs a Wortmann 61-184 airfoil at the wing root, with a Wortmann 60-126 at the wing tip. The wing is equipped with trailing edge dive brakes. The landing gear is a retractable monowheel.[1][2][4]

Both aircraft were constructed as pure gliders and then later motorized with the addition of a twin-cylinder, in-line Yamaha snowmobile engine. The engine is mounted behind the wing spar on a pylon that retracts forward into a bay closed by two doors. The power is transmitted through a belt-drive to a two-bladed propeller. The pylon can be deployed in eight seconds and uses the electric motor from a Ford Thunderbird window winder. The Yamaha powerplant gives a take-off roll of 1,000 ft (305 m) at an elevation of 500 ft (152 m) and produces a climb rate of 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s).[1][2]

Operational history

The first O-3 was flown by Oldershaw in several US National contests and Oldershaw completed his distance diamond in the aircraft with a flight of 431 mi (694 km).[2]

Oldershaw's O-3 was listed by the Federal Aviation Administration as destroyed and removed from the register in July 1999. The US Southwest Soaring Museum lists it as being part of their collection.[5][6]

O-3 serial number 2 was built by Carlton Kibler of Porterville, California and officially registered as a Fry-Kibler O3A Renigade in 1979. In May 2011 the aircraft was still on the FAA registry.[2][7]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (O-3)

Data from Sailplane Directory and Soaring[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Wingspan: 54 ft (16 m)
  • Wing area: 124 sq ft (11.5 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 23.54:1
  • Airfoil: Root Wortmann 61-184, Tip: Wortmann 60-126
  • Empty weight: 760 lb (345 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum glide ratio: 41:1 at 67 mph (108 km/h)
  • Rate of sink: 131 ft/min (0.67 m/s) at 56 mph (90 km/h)
  • Wing loading: 8.0 lb/sq ft (39 kg/m2)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References
  1. Activate Media (2006). "O-3 Oldershaw". Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  2. Said, Bob: 1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 51. Soaring Society of America November 1983. USPS 499-920
  3. "J2mcL Planeurs - Fiche planeur n°". www.j2mcl-planeurs.net. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  4. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  5. US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  6. Federal Aviation Administration (May 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  7. Federal Aviation Administration (May 2011). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved May 26, 2011.
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