Cessna L-19 On Display At Spirit Of Flight Center

The Spirit of Flight Center in Denver tells ANN it's nearing the end of a complete restoration of an historic Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog".  The unique  aircraft is a prototype example built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1949.

"This has been a huge project because of some major wind damage the L-19 suffered last February," said Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Center. "The plane broke from its tie downs during 100 MPH winds, then cart-wheeled down a ravine before hitting a pine tree."

Thanks to the efforts of museum volunteers and students at Redstone College in Broomfield, Colorado, the Cessna L-19 was saved rather than scrapped and will soon be on display for generations to enjoy.

Researching the aircraft, the museum found that in 1949, the U.S. Army was searching for an aircraft that could adjust artillery fire, as well as perform liaison duties, and preferably be constructed of all metal, as the canvas covered Liaison airplanes used during World War II had a short service life. The US Army issued the specification for a two-seat liaison and observation monoplane and the Cessna Aircraft Company submitted the Cessna Model 305A, a development of the Cessna 170. The Cessna 305A was a single-engine light-weight strut-braced high-wing monoplane with a tailwheel landing gear. The greatest difference from the Cessna 170 was that the 305A only had two seats, in tandem configuration (the only tandem-seat plane that Cessna ever produced), with angled side windows to improve ground observation. Other differences included a re-designed rear fuselage, providing a view directly to the rear (a feature later dubbed "Omni-View" and carried to Cessna single-engine planes after 1964), and transparent panels in the wings' center-section which allowed the pilot to look directly overhead. A wider door was fitted to allow a stretcher to be loaded.

The U.S. Army awarded a contract to Cessna for 418 aircraft which was designated the L-19A Bird Dog. The prototype Cessna 305 first flew on December 14, 1949. Deliveries began in December 1950 and the aircraft was soon in use fighting its first war in Korea from 1950 through 1953. Cessna produced 3,431 aircraft which was also built under license by Fuji in Japan.  The L-19 was dubbed "Bird Dog" as a result of a contest held among Cessna employees to name the aircraft.

FMI: www.spiritofflight.com