UO-1

The Vought UO‑1 was a United States Navy observation aircraft produced by the Vought Aircraft Company in the early 1930s. Designed to replace the aging Vought FU‑1, the UO‑1 entered service in 1933 as the Navy’s standard ship‑borne scout and spotter. It featured a single‑bay, low‑wing biplane layout with wooden ribs and fabric covering, powered by a 440 hp Wright R‑975 radial engine that drove a two‑bladed wooden propeller. The cockpit accommodated a pilot and an observer, the latter equipped with a flexible rear‑mounted Lewis gun and a dedicated radio set for artillery spotting. Its short take‑off distance, robust fixed landing gear with oleo struts, and capability to operate from aircraft carriers and seaplane tenders made it a versatile platform for fleet reconnaissance. Although its performance was modest—maximum speed of about 150 mph and a service ceiling near 15 000 ft—the UO‑1 proved reliable in harsh maritime conditions and was deployed on several carriers, including the USS Saratoga and USS Lexington. The aircraft’s service life ended in 1938, but its straightforward design and operational record helped shape subsequent Navy observation types, illustrating Vought’s influence on early carrier‑based aviation.