OO-1

The Viking OO‑1 was the first product of the short‑lived Viking Flying Boat Company, an American manufacturer that emerged in the early 1920s to meet the growing demand for versatile seaplanes. Designed by former Naval aviator Harold E. Olsen, the OO‑1 made its maiden flight on 12 June 1924 from Lake Michigan’s Muskegon Bay. The aircraft featured a twin‑pontoons hull constructed of spruce and mahogany, a 300‑horsepower Wright R‑975 radial engine mounted in a pusher configuration, and a high‑mounted wing of 45‑foot span that incorporated full‑length ailerons for improved roll control. Its open cockpit accommodated a pilot and a passenger, while the spacious cabin could be quickly re‑configured for mail, cargo, or medical evacuation. Only twelve units were built before the company folded in 1927, but the OO‑1 demonstrated the practicality of amphibious transport and influenced later designs such as the Consolidated Commodore and the Sikorsky S‑38. Aviation historians credit the Viking OO‑1 with proving that relatively small flying boats could operate reliably in both inland lakes and coastal waters, paving the way for the expansion of commercial and rescue aviation in the interwar period.

Viking Flying Boat Company

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Design & Classification