OL-3

The Loening OL‑3 was a single‑engine, biplane amphibious aircraft built by the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation in the early 1930s. Developed as an evolution of the earlier OL‑2, the OL‑3 incorporated a more powerful Wright R‑1820 radial engine delivering 450 hp, a refined hull shape, and a strengthened wing structure that improved both water handling and air‑speed performance. First flown in March 1932, the aircraft entered limited production for the United States Navy, where it served primarily as a scout‑observation and utility platform. Its retractable landing gear allowed seamless transition between land and sea operations, while the open cockpit accommodated a pilot and observer with binocular stations. The OL‑3’s robust design proved reliable in harsh maritime environments, influencing later Loening amphibians such as the OA‑1 and the famed “Monoduck.” Though only a handful were built, the OL‑3 demonstrated the practicality of amphibious biplanes for naval reconnaissance, bridging the gap between pure seaplanes and land‑based aircraft. The type is remembered today as a pivotal step in the evolution of mixed‑mode naval aviation and a testament to Loening’s innovative engineering during the interwar period.