OL-9

The Loening OL‑9 was a single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed by the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation in the early 1930s. Conceived as a versatile utility aircraft, the OL‑9 combined the robust construction of Loening’s earlier amphibious designs with a conventional land‑plane layout, allowing it to operate from rough field strips as well as grass airfields. Powered by a 450‑horsepower Wright R‑1820 radial engine, the aircraft featured a streamlined aluminum fuselage, a spacious cabin that accommodated up to five passengers or equivalent cargo, and a fixed, faired undercarriage that could be quickly swapped for floats when required. Its exceptionally short take‑off distance and forgiving handling made the OL‑9 popular with regional airlines and governmental survey units throughout the United States and Canada. Although only a limited production run of 38 airframes was completed before the company merged with Douglas Aircraft, the OL‑9 demonstrated the practical benefits of modular landing gear and helped establish design principles later refined in the famed Douglas DC‑3. In aviation history, the Loening OL‑9 is remembered as a transitional platform that bridged the gap between early amphibians and the modern, mass‑produced transport aircraft of the mid‑20th century.