OL-6

The Loening OL‑6 was a single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed in the early 1930s by the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation, a firm best known for its innovative amphibious designs. Conceived as a light observation and utility aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Corps, the OL‑6 combined a welded steel tube fuselage with a wooden wing covered in fabric, giving it a robust yet lightweight structure. Powered by a 225‑horsepower Wright R‑975 radial engine, it could reach 130 mph and carried two crew members plus a modest cargo load. Its distinctive feature was a fully retractable, hand‑operated landing gear that allowed seamless transition between land and water operations, a concept Loening refined after the success of its earlier amphibians. Though only a handful were built before the program was cancelled in 1934, the OL‑6 demonstrated the practicality of versatile, short‑range reconnaissance aircraft and influenced later designs such as the Stinson L‑5 Sentinel. The aircraft’s blend of simplicity, durability, and dual‑environment capability marks it as a noteworthy step in the evolution of multi‑role military aviation during the interwar period. Today, restored examples occasionally appear at vintage air shows, reminding enthusiasts of Loening’s pioneering spirit.