Our Aircraft’s History

Cessna O-2A Skymaster Cessna O-2A (S/N #69-7656) – more research is needed.

Historical locations (needs verifications):
  • May 6, 1970 – Gained from production at Cessna Wichita, Kansas
  • May 27, 1970 – Assigned to 71st TAS Group Bergstrom AFB
  • June 14, 1974 – Assigned to 602nd TAS (Tactical Air Support)/TCT Group Bergstrom AFB 14 June 1974
  • September 30, 1976 – Returned with 2683 hrs
  • June 25, 1977 – Return with 3024 hrs
  • February 12, 1979 – SAACE Bergstrom AFB 12 February 1979 with 3713 hrs (San Antonio AMA?)
  • February 16, 1979 – 602nd TCT Wing Bergstrom AFB (Tactical Air Control Wing?)
  • August 21, 1979 – Davis Monthan with 3841 hrs 
MAPS Air Museum obtained the Cessna O-2 Skymaster in the winter of 2025/26 and is currently being rebuilt to museum status.
 
Performance & Specifications
  • Role: Observation aircraft
  • Manufacturer: Cessna
  • First Flight: January 1967
  • Introduction: March 1967
  • Retired: 2010 (U.S.)
  • Built: 532
  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 29 ft 9 in
  • Wingspan: 38 ft
  • Height: 9 ft 4 in
  • Empty weight: 2,848 lb
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,400 lb
  • Loaded weight: 37,000 lb
  • Engines: 2 x Continental IO-360C/D air-cooled flat-six engines, 210hp each
  • Max speed: 199 mph at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 144 mph at 10,000 ft
  • Range 1,060 mi
  • Service ceiling: 19,800 ft

And the O-2’s instrument panel is coming along.

 

Armament, notable

  • Guns: SUU-11/A Minigun pod
  • 4x MAU-3A bomb racks
  • Rockets: LAU-59/A Rocket Launcher, MA-2/A Rocket Launcher
  • Bombs: SUU-14/A Bomblet Dispenser
 
Museum display note:  TBD

Replaced the:  Cessna O-1 “Bird Dog”

Replaced by: North American Rockwell OV-10 “Bronco”