Sun, Jan 24, 2010
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.
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