OL-2

The Loening OL‑2 was a two‑seat observation aircraft produced by the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation in the mid‑1920s. Developed from the earlier Loening M‑2 amphibian, the OL‑2 entered service with the United States Army Air Service in 1927 as a versatile short‑range reconnaissance platform capable of operating from water or conventional airfields. Its most striking feature was the sleek, boat‑like fuselage built of welded steel tubing and covered with aluminum skin, which allowed the aircraft to alight on calm seas without the need for separate floats. Power was supplied by a 225‑horse‑power Wright R‑790 radial engine mounted in a pusher configuration, driving a two‑bladed propeller behind the cockpit. The high‑mounted wing incorporated a wide‑chord aileron system and could be folded for shipboard storage. The open cockpits offered excellent downward visibility, essential for artillery spotting and coastal patrol duties. Although only a few dozen were built, the OL‑2 demonstrated the practicality of amphibious reconnaissance aircraft and influenced later designs such as the Loening OA‑1 and the Consolidated PBY Catalina. Its combination of rugged construction, short‑field capability, and dual‑mode operation secured its place as a pioneering step in the evolution of military seaplanes.