Development

In anticipation for a demand for training aircraft caused by the introduction of a civil war training scheme (in which civil flying schools would provide primary training for the military), Allen Meyers designed the OTW and formed the Meyers Aircraft Company to build it. The OTW was a conventional biplane with tandem seating for two in open cockpits and a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The prototype was powered by a 125 hp (93 kW) Warner Scarab engine and it first flew on 10 May 1936. The aircraft was produced in two main variants; the OTW-145 powered by a 145 hp (108 kW) Warner Super Scarab, and the OTW-160 powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Kinner R-5 engine.

Variants

Surviving aircraft

1 – On static display at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kansas. It was acquired by the museum in late 1986.^[1]
53 – Airworthy at the Pioneer Flight Museum in Kingsbury, Texas.^[2]^[3]
89 – Airworthy with David Grainger in Bradford, Ontario.^[4]^[5]
102 – On static display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It was the last OTW built and was assembled from parts to be the personal aircraft of Allen Meyers.^[6]

Specifications (OTW-160)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947^[7]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 25 ft 11 in (7.91 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Wing area: 262 sq ft (24.3 m2)
Empty weight: 1,340 lb (608 kg)
Gross weight: 1,910 lb (866 kg)
Fuel capacity: 26 US gal (22 imp gal; 98 l)
Powerplant: 1 × Kinner R-56 5-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 160 hp (120 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
Landing speed: 40 mph (35 kn; 64 km/h)
Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m)
Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)
Wing loading: 7.25 lb/sq ft (35.4 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 11.81 lb/hp (7.17 kg/kW)

Development

Variants

Surviving aircraft

Specifications (OTW-160)

See also