Cessna L-19 Bird Dog

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L-19 Bird Dog
The O-1 Bird Dog
Description
Role	Forward air control and reconnaissance
Crew	2 - pilot and observer
Dimensions
Length	25.83 ft	7.87 m
Wingspan	36 ft	10.97 m
Height	9.17 ft	2.79 m
Wing area	173.94 ft²	16.16 m²
Weights
Empty	1,614 lb	732 kg
Loaded	2,400 lb	1,008 kg
Powerplant
Engines	One Continental O-470
Power	213 hp	159 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	150 mph	241.4 km/h
Combat range	530 mi	853 km
Service ceiling	20,300 ft	6,200 m
Rate of climb	1,040 ft/min	317 m/min

The Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, a military version of the Cessna 170, is used by the United States Air Force, Army and Marines. It was developed as the winner of a 1950 competition for a new two-seat, single-engine observation plane.

The Defense Department ordered 3,200 L-19s that were built between 1950 and 1959. The planes were used in various utility roles such as artillery spotting, front-line communications, medevac and training. During the Vietnam War, the planes were used for reconnaissance and forward air control.

It received the name of "Bird Dog" as a result of a contest held with Cessna employees to name the aircraft. The winning contestant was Jack A. Swayze, an industrial photographer. The name was chosen because of its indication of the reconnaissance mission of the aircraft, as well as its indication of reliability and friendliness.

The aircraft were re-designated in 1962 to the O-1, and were eventually replaced by the O-2 Skymaster in the Air Force and it continued service in the Army until the conclusion of the Vietnam War.

In Canada, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets also use L-19 aircraft equipped with a towing rig to tow their Schweizer 2-33 gliders for the Air Cadet gliding program.

[edit] Operators

• Austria, Chile, France, Norway, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malta, Pakistan, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, Canada (Air Force, Army), United States (US Air Force, US Army, US Marine Corps).

[edit] External links

• International Bird-Dog Society
• Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum
• Warbird Alley
• Standard Aircraft Characteristics: O-1C (Navair Publication)
• International Liaison Pilots and Aircraft Ass'n (ILPA)

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

• Stinson L-13

Designation sequence

• Pre-1962 US DoD: L-18 - L-19 - L-20
• Post-1962 US DoD: O-1 Bird Dog - O-2 Skymaster - YO-3 - ZO-4 Wren - EO-5 - (End)

 

See also