The Mohawk is a tactical reconnaissance and battlefield observation aircraft designed to replace the L-19 and other light observation aircraft in use by the U.S. Army in the late 1950s. From its first flight in 1959, the OV-1 proved to have exactly the combination of speed, maneuverability, and range that the Army was looking for. The OV-1 began entering service in 1961 and by the end of 1962 they had begun to appear in Vietnam. Different versions of the Mohawk were designed to carry different types of equipment. The “C” models, like the one in the museum’s collection carried cameras and infra-red sensors. Mohawks served in the U.S. Army until 1996, when the last of them were retired.
Wingspan
42 ft
Length
41 ft 1 in.
Height
12 ft 8 in.
Weight
15,302 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed
295 MPH
Service Ceiling
27,450 ft
Range
1,245 miles
Engines
Two Lycoming T53-L-7 turboprops with 1,150 horsepower each
Crew
2
Manufacturer Grumman
Markings First Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Vietnam 1967
Serial Number 61-2724
Designation OV-1C
Pima Air & Space Museum
Creating unlimited horizons in aerospace education through the preservation and presentation of the history of flight.