Cessna O-1 Bird Dog (L-19)

History

In 1947, the U.S. Army Air Force ceased to exist in the U.S. military structure, replaced by two autonomous entities within the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force (USAF). This leaves the Army without its own dedicated close air support wing, but it is still required to perform a variety of battlefield roles, including light reconnaissance, liaison, artillery targeting and observation.

After the events of World War II (1939-1945), a very robust product is now envisioned centered on the use of an all-metal skin. The U.S. Army then requested a new two-person, single-engine platform capable of short-field/rough-field operations with excellent low-altitude handling and equally excellent cockpit visibility.

The Cessna Group submitted its 305A model to the competition, based on its 170 model.

The Cessna was designed with a traditional aircraft layout, with the engine mounted in a compartment at the front and a monoplane tail mounted at the rear. The landing gear is simple but sturdy, consisting of a pair of single-wheeled main gear legs and a small tail wheel. All landing gears are non-retractable, further increasing simplicity and controlling acquisition and maintenance costs. The engine drives a twin-blade propeller arrangement in the front, while the cockpit uses a tandem (in-line) seating arrangement for the two crew members, with windows on all sides of the cabin for maximum visibility.

To further enhance the largely unobstructed view, straight monoplane wing assemblies are placed on top of the nacelle, which also provides good lift characteristics and strong handling at low speeds. In fact, pilots quickly learned that they could "float their 305s in space" without stalling, and land with a small runway distance ahead.

Brackets emanating from the underside of the fuselage extend all the way to the underside of each wing to add strength and support to the flexible structure.

During the 1970s, all major branches of the U.S. military gradually replaced bird dogsthe last front-line example was retired in 1974. Still, home models have proven their worth in the new millennium and remain popular with homeowners.

A similar Model 325 based on the Model 305 is another notable shape for use in agricultural spraying operations.

The

Bird Dog series designation includes the original L19A used by the US Army, with 2,486 eventually produced. In a 1962 reorganization of US military designations, these were redesignated O-1A. The TL-19A, designated as the dual-control trainer version, became the TO-1A in 1962.

310 TL-19D meter trainers were built, becoming TO-1D. The L-19E was an improved L-19A with an increased overall weight, which became the O-1E in 1962, with production reaching 469. The OE-1 was the 60 original USMC Bird Dogs in the L-19A standard, which became the O-1B in 1962. The OE-2 is the OE-1, but with Cessna 180 wings and a modified fuselage.

These were renamed the O-1C in 1962, and a total of 27 were built. The O-1D series are TL-19D trainers modified for the US Air Force's Forward Air Control (FAC) role. The O-1F followed and was based on the O-1D, while the O-1G was the USAF's O-1A for the FAC.

The XL-19B is a "one-off" experimental bird dog powered by a 210 hp Boeing XT-50-BO-1 turboprop. Likewise, the XL-19C exists as two prototypes of Bird Dogs with a 210 hp Continental CAE XT51-T-1 turboprop engine. None of them were further developed in series production.

The typical Bird Dog design (in the case of the O-1E) is powered by a 213 hp Continental O-470-11 six-piston engine. This gives the design a top speed of 130 mph, a range of up to 530 miles, a service ceiling of 20,300 feet and a rate of climb of 1,040 feet per minute.

Measurements include a length of 25 feet 9 inches, a wingspan of 36 feet and a height of 7 feet 3 inches. Empty weight is 1,600 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 2,800 lbs.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes