L-19/O-1 Bird Dog

The creation of the Cessna L-19/O-1 “Bird Dog” was spurred by the official separation of the Army Air Forces from the U.S. Army and the creation of a separate branch of the armed forces as the U.S. Air Force. With the Air Force now a separate branch of the military armed forces, the Army saw a need for their own aircraft that would carry out some of the missions previously performed by the Army Air Forces. Cessna’s answer to this need was the L-19. The name Bird Dog was introduced by Cessna after a contest where employees of the company participated in submitting names. The name itself
has a reference to hunting dogs that would aid their master in finding game birds.

The Bird Dog saw its first missions carrying deliveries in 1950. Once a sufficient number of aircraft had been produced, they were introduced to their first combat role during the Korean War. Thanks to the short take off and landing performance, it was first used as a general liaison and observation aircraft. The duties evolved to include medivac, artillery spotting, and
airborne communications relay. A later variant of the L-19 would be used by the Army as a flight training aircraft.

Seeing later service in the Vietnam War, the Bird Dog continued its previously used roles, and assumed another role as a “FAC” (Forward Air Controller). Several allied militaries also used the Bird Dog including Cambodia, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Japan, and others. Towards the later 1970’s, the model would be phased out by newer aircraft entering service.

Aircraft Specifications

Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company

Crew: 2

Power Plant: 1 × Continental O-470-11 air-cooled flat-six, 213 hp

Empty Weight: 1,614 lb (732 kg) (159 kW)

Max Takeoff Weight: 2,100 lb (1,102 kg)

Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m) Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)

Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) Wing area: 174 sq ft (16.2 m2

Maximum Speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)

Cruise Speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)

Range: 530 mi (850 km, 460 nmi)

Service Ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)