Cessna O-1 Bird Dog ~ Military Aircraft & Armored Vehicles

The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog was an observation aircraft in service with the US Army during the Cold War. It was extensively used in the Korean and the Vietnam War as a liaison, observation, even ground-attack and light cargo plane to supply isolated American Special Forces troops who were deep in the jungle of Southeast Asia. Originally known as the L-19, it was developed from the Cessna 170 of the 1940s. It would enjoy a long and successful career both with the Army and US Air Force. It was also used by the French and other European and Latin American armies.

The O-1 Bird Dog had been designed in 1949 by the Cessna Engineering Department, using the wings from the Model 170 and the tail assembly from the Model 195. The prototype, Model 305, first flew on December 14, 1949, beginning the flight test period. It was powered by one Continental E-190, six-cylinder piston engine, which delivered 213 horsepower and drove a metal, two-bladed, McCauley propeller. The excellent power to weight ratio of the Continental power plant allowed the prototype to have a high cruising speed yet retain enough power reserves for emergencies. On May 29, 1950, the US Army granted Cessna the production contract, ordering a first batch of 418 aircraft, which entered service under the designation L-19. That year, on June 25, the Korean War would break out, and the Army would use it right away.

The Cessna L-19 Bird Dog would go on to be built in five different models and became known under two different designations; in the US Army service it was known as the L-19, and as the OE-1 by the US Navy/Marine Corps. However, the Department of Defense would later standardize aircraft designations and all Bird Dogs were redesignated O-1 regardless of service. This versatile aircraft produced a number of 'firsts'. It was the first all-metal, high-wing aircraft in service with Army Aviation; the first turboprop light aircraft to fly over 35,000 feet (experimental); and the first military aircraft built by Cessna to the US Army, which would eventually accept a total of 3,105 L-19s.

Below, the first production L-19A (O-1A), No 14829, parked on an airfield.

Technical Characteristics

The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog was a two-seat, single-engine monoplane of all-metal construction. It had a high-wing configuration. Wings were propped up by two oblique struts attached to the plane airframe. The fuselage assembly was of semi-monocoque riveted metal construction, employing aluminum alloy bulkheads and stringers, as well as an aluminum alclad skin covering. Using aluminum for its construction made this versatile military plane both a rugged and a light aircraft at the same time.

The Bird Dog was fitted with a conventional, fixed landing gear, with two main wheels anchored to the belly of the fore portion of airframe/fuselage, and a small tail wheel. However, many aircraft were equipped with reinforced tandem landing gear, with four front wheels, to land on rough unprepared terrain during special operations. The cockpit had two side-by-side seats, plus two passanger seats behind. The cockpit also had a canopy which allowed an all-around vision capability. It was powered by one Continental O-470-11 air-cooled piston engine, which produced 213 HP.

Specifications (O-1E)

Type: light observation/liaison aircraft

Length: 7.85 m (25 feet, 9 inches)

Wing Span: 10.97 m (35 feet)

Wing Area: 16.16 m2 (170 square fee)

Height: 2.22 m (7 feet, 3 inches)

Power Plant: one 213-HP, Continental O-470, six-cylinder, piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 205 km/h (146 mph)

Range: 853 km (530 miles)

Service Ceiling: 5,640 m (18,500 feet)

Armament: four target marking rockets

Crew: two.

Below, the Bird Dog flies over the jungle of Vietnam.

An L-19A makes a low pass to snatch the line stretched out on the ground by two soldiers during an aerial message pick-up. Aerial message deliveries were made in areas where radio silence was enforced.