Flying the Cessna L19 Bird Dog

Skywagons University Flies the L19 Bird-Dog. Touch and go. Cockpit view. Warbird. Vietnam era aircraft. Bush plane. STOL aircraft. Taildragger. Wheel landing. Military aircraft. Restored aircraft.

[@BobJones-dq9mx]

This clip brings back memories of my duty in Vietnam commencing Jan. 1970- I flew 300 hours primarily in Laos before being reassigned to fly the YO-3. Army Loses 297 Air Force 172

[@harpin4God]

I was a crew chief on these in Vietnam ‘68 with the CatKillers 220th. So nice to see the instrument panel again. Glad it was left OD green! I want so badly to go up again in the back seat!!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Where are you.

[@davidsoom1551]

I remember the backseat stick was tall and seemed a bit strange.

[@harpin4God]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I’m in Orange County near John Wayne airport

[@jameslewis9003]

Was PhuBai alright?

[@harpin4God]

@@jameslewis9003 probably better than many. Better than the bush!

[@topper3348]

Mark, I'm somewhat envious of your little trip around the pattern. Now a comment from a 1,000 combat hour former Army O-1 pilot. With the flaps available in the O-1, there is NO need to drag it in to a landing. It's not a 757 with two powerful engines. It's a simple little aircraft that, with the wide range of flap settings, can be landed with only idle power and not dragged in. We were always taught that you should be able to land it if the engine fails anywhere in the approach. Plus, by using minimal power in landing, you will land in a shorter distance. If you have the flaps, learn to use them ... all of them if need be.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for the tip. It was the second landing I have ever done in it.

[@frankbacon245]

When I learned to fly (1957) and when I was an instructor, (1962-1966), we taught only power off approaches. Adding power on final meant you screwed up.

[@jimsteele9975]

@@frankbacon245 That is the way I was taught by my instructor in 1957.....he was a former USAAF and USAF pilot who flew C-47 and C-54s ."over the hump" and the Berlin Airlift.......he said "any dumb**s can land when his engine is performing.....it takes a pilot to land if the engine fails"

[@BobJones-dq9mx]

@@jimsteele9975 I had the unfortunate experience of a dead stick landing on an old dirt road.in Laos.

[@carlbuick]

Topper- Over 1000 combat hrs here too . (1st Cav.) Mark did a wheel landing. I was never trained to do that. I tried once and it scared me to death. Every one of thousands of landings, on all types of surfaces and conditions...it was full stall; plant all 3 wheels on the ground at once; you're done flying. In a wheel landing, one is still half flying until somewhere down the runway, after the tail wheel touches down, and gets slow enough to brake. In a three point landing, one can land in a surprisingly short distance by hanging it on the prop; coming down the final with a high power setting, nose high, slow speed (close to stall warning), planting it, cutting power and braking all at once. It helps that the plane has a 470 engine, large 60 degree Fowler flaps, and single leaf spring main wheels gear. She's a tough bird. Of course, if the engine quits, you're toast. I implicitly trusted our mechanics.

[@DeereX748]

My dream plane. Rather have one of these than a Mustang, the Bird Dog is what real flying is all about. For those others who are real L-19/0-1 fans find yourself a copy of "The Lovable One-Niner".

[@LittleManFlying]

Major nostalgia! The boss sent me off to check myself out on wheels in the Bird Dog. I'd already flown it on floats and skis. My first takeoff ended up being across the runway. After a little airwork and some pattern work, we were great friends. 🥰

[@christheother9088]

As a teen I built and flew a balsa control line Bird Dog. She flew great. This pulls on the old nostalgia strings.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Guillow's? I have fond memories of building balsa wood and paper fliers!

[@christheother9088]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 Yup!

[@akomara1]

Bird dogs are so much fun! They do a really nice departure in a right accelerated stall with top rudder. Great fun!

[@Iflyagrasshopper]

??? Accelerated stall on departure??? Can you explain a little more about that?

[@akomara1]

Departure from from “controlled flight” up at altitude obviously

[@topper3348]

I too loved that over the top spin from the accelerated stall. @@akomara1

[@russwayne2132]

What a joy to watch you fly in that Bird Dog.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks. It is a great plane.

[@smokey6885]

As retired 20,000+ hours ATP FIX/ROTOR WING PILOT, Of all the different aircraft i flew, i think i enjoyed the Birddog the most. That was a fair landing.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Occasionally I get away with it.

[@JimWatson-m8s]

Brings back many fond memories. Flew many hours on the L19 as a glider tug...loved the 60* flaps. Greabird!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Very good fun those Bird Dogs.

[@chrism3872]

I spent a fair amount of rear seat time in L-19's in VN during the war - before I was a licensed pilot, but did get some stick time sitting in the back. Incredible visibility! Of course the Army Birddogs in VN were flat OD with subdued markings...great short field aircraft! I eventually bought a Husky and a J3, but I sure looked for an L-19. The Husky is an amazing STOL aircraft as well, and incredibly fun to fly!

[@johnderby8921]

Have had several chances to enjoy Bird Dog rides, military, civilian and tow ships. Love this plane so much. Great performance, visibility, climb out, throaty roar and friendship from the pilots, too. WIN, WIN all the way!!!!!! NH

[@garysmith5256]

The L-19 for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a fairly recent release, brought me here. That's about as close to the real thing as I'm likely to get, but it does behave exactly as your video. So, at least there is a good virtual model to afford vicarious thrills! Have to agree with the military pilots commenting that it lends itself to a low throttle or idle setting on final, unlike the J35 I once owned. Thank you (2 yrs late...) for the video!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Nice to know it is similar.

[@johnholzhey8149]

The L 19. One of the most beautiful small planes built.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It certainly has a "look" to it.

[@jameslewis9003]

I was with the 220th when they stood down in ‘71.

[@KTWardlaw]

Beautiful Bird! Thx Mark….what a treat…..thanks Diana!😎👍🏼

[@dozermedic18]

Thx Mark, please keep sharing your awesome videos!, especially Tailwheel, though they are all good 😉

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you.

[@scottfinney4356]

My father owns an L-19... To me, the rudder pedals feel squishy. But very accurate with your inputs. It only needs about 500ft for Take-offs/landings with Full flaps and Johny on the spot with the brakes... She a Fun Lil warbird. :)

[@craighermle7727]

I've spent many hours behind L-19s while being aero towed. I got a few flights in one as well. The flaps are amazing!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Great old planes.

[@JimForeman]

I flew an L-19 glider tow plane for a couple years. Averaged five or six tows per hour of flying time. Big, slow and noisy old airplane, loved it.

[@kevinvoges3447]

'just love these videos. 'such a solid aircraft. thanks, mark!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That was a fun one to make.

[@TomasAWalker53]

Always wanted to fly in a Bird Dog and now I have ‼️ Thanks Mark‼️😊👍🏻

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks.

[@blancolirio]

You got this KZbin thing Mark! ‘Crack on!’ Jb

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks.

[@kentknapp2349]

FYI, I hold STC for 20 gal aux fuel tank mounted just aft of the pilot seat. This modification was designed for Bristol Bay fish spotter friend. Looong legs.

[@321southtube]

Absolutely beautiful aircraft....Thanks

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's a good one.

[@SVSky]

Truly beautiful, if I wanted a Cessna, this would be the Cessna I'd buy.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Good choice

[@bristocamino9376]

Beautiful footage and great production. Thanks.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Hi Bristo! Thanks for the compliment! - Don the camera guy.

[@barryborton6732]

Ah, the memories, was stationed with the 22nd TASS at Binh Thuy AB. One of our planes was brought back under a Chinook with a bent wing after crashing at one of out Det bases. Got to fly backseat on the aircraft checkout after repairs. Pilot let me have the controls while he checked out the radios. For ten minutes I got to fly an O-1 over enemy territory. I was 19 at the time.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thank you for this memory. Very interesting.

[@davidsoom1551]

Or CAP unit had a Bird Dog and the waiting list to fly it was always full. Great airplane, indeed!

[@lorenzodunn3226]

Excellent film footage and sound. Great commentary.

[@rauldiaz3193]

Awesome!! Thanks for doing another bird dog video. Keep up tyhe great work.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks.

[@c140flyer]

I got to tow banners with several birddogs back in the early eighties. It was so much easier to tow with this plane vs. a cub. An added bonus was the back window. You could actually see how the banner was "flying" much easier. If I remember correctly, at least one of the planes had 60deg. of flap!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks for sharing that story, Larry!

[@josesbox9555]

Man I’d love one of those. Would a great back country airplane.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Only two seats but yes it would be great.

[@josesbox9555]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I used to tow in those in Hawaii. Ever since I’d love to have one but without the beautiful paint job. I’d be putting ducks and and moose parts in the back. 😬

[@franksgattolin8904]

I miss flying the 19. Sweet, predictable, airplane. With 60-Deb mpg flaps approaches were fun and landings quite short. Sweet bird.

[@tonywright8294]

Bird dog cute little airplane !

[@bernardanderson3758]

Mark I had to go back and watch you again when you did the low pass over the runway and I would love to flying and feel the controls of the L-19

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was fun. It is a really excellent plane.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Probably the most practical warbird a civilian can own.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is true

[@bernardanderson3758]

Beautiful landing as well

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks a lot!

[@johnmajane3731]

Beautiful Bird Dog. I towed gliders with them, they were pretty rough looking planes but fun to fly. The only thing was with no one in the back seat we didn't use full flaps, you couldn't do a three point landing with them in that configuration.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

You have to have the guy in the back lean forward a lot.

[@topper3348]

The US Army never taught wheel landings in the O-1 for a reason ... this little beast needs a 3-point, full stall landing and keep her straight. Wheel landings look nice but not intended for any sort of short field or unimproved field landings. Try a wheel landing in a high crosswind and you'll see (if you can control it) why she needs to be planted down in a full stall landing.

[@johnmajane3731]

@@topper3348 It did a fair wheel landing but I am not a big fan of them. I flew at a commercial glider operation for 12 years on the weekends. Normally 30+ landings in a day. Always three pointed the planes. PA-18, 8GBC and PA-25s.

[@b52707]

Nice plane.

[@philbrammer3632]

Nice landing, well done.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Sometimes, even if there is a camera, you get lucky.

[@robbyowen9107]

Thanks Mark!

[@bernardanderson3758]

Mark this is what I want to always wanted in a warbird if I could afford it but unfortunately I would love to have flown with you in the demo

[@conradsteeneck7971]

Funny story. I was a crew chief in RVN and for three weeks I had to PROP START the Bird Dog every morning because the battery was dead. I'd make sure it was tied down securely and run it for about 10-15 minutes to give the battery a charge before the pilot came out to fly. He never found out. Fun times.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is a big engine to prop start. That is what I call a "Hemmingway Starter" Farewell To Arms

[@bernardanderson3758]

I would love to come out and fly this around the pattern

[@scottbtraveling1444]

Another excellent video!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mrwest5552]

I'm sure there were versions of the Bird Dog.. that cockpit appears much more narrow than one in Bat 21.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The Plane in Bat 21 that Danny Glover flew was a Skymaster, "push/pull" twin.

[@frankcloskey7789]

Excellent pilot 5/27/2021

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Survived another one.

[@Iflyagrasshopper]

Hi Mark The one that you sold to CN13 has a Horton STOL kit on it. This one doesn’t look like it has a STOL cuff? Was the STOL cuff added by the military or is that something that happened in civilian hands?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The STOL Kit can be on any of them. They generally did not have them when these planes were working.

[@sky-11]

liked watching that wheel landing nice job, recently i saw you had n4646b a 180 I had flown in Florida in one of my videos. that the owner since then sold it to some place in colorado then it made its way to skywagons and you sold it and then it was damaged in a accident in Oklahoma. That 180 made its rounds

[@FINSuojeluskunta]

That plane recently had an accident

[@kesslermontijo6304]

in service in Nam, the radios carried cost more than the plane! and when taking small arms fire, being hit a few times happens so fast that by the time you realize, it's over.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That would have been some experience.

[@carlbuick]

It had an armored seat @@skywagonuniversity5023

[@PDZ1122]

The military training manuals never mention wheel landings! Get the little wheel on the ground where it belongs!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

The training manuals were trying to keep it simple. The Bird Dog loves to wheel land.

[@topper3348]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 and keeping it simple instead of pretty was what kept us alive and our Birddogs in one piece for the next mission.

[@dulcevendetta]

i worked on that plane for a short while :) was in an annual

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's a very good one.

[@johneastman1905]

Wise to drop the camo green for that hi visibility paint design.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, Easier to see.

[@robertleslie2467]

Great video. Would love to see you hook up with Juan Brown (Blancolirio). He often flies in and out of Placerville.

[@mannypuerta5086]

Looks like a hoot. The taildragger KISS: Keep it straight, stupid.👍🏻

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Exactly.

[@mikemc330]

Cool.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Beautiful landing mark and that’s how would have done it

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

You get lucky sometimes.

[@KTWardlaw]

I’d love to fly that...

[@tjcrocker443]

Great drone shots, keep up the content. Would love the see a c185 video like this. Thanks

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Appreciate the compliment, TJ! - Don the camera guy.

[@flyinbryanfpv]

2:20 I'm liking the drone shot

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It gives a different perspective.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Glad you liked it! - Don the Camera Guy.

[@flyinbryanfpv]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 👍 my neighbor has a Cessna Bird Dog, but it's army green. Love to watch it fly over. They sound good too

[@Josectre]

Very nice. Your logo is a Bird Dog.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's supposed to be a Skywagon but it looks like a Bird-Dog.

[@Jack-ne8vm]

7:20 sounds like Sting Flight on the radio. Nice Cessna.

[@leefithian3704]

Cool , do helio Porter next , the Pilatus Porter

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Hmmm. Who has one that I can play with?

[@leefithian3704]

S. Fl highway patrol

[@wayneco]

I totally think I’d want to buy a pristine L-19 with a US Military livery, if I could find one. Those things have 60(?) degree flaps, too!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

60 degrees and they are very effective.

[@wayneco]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 I think I’m in the market for a 185, you’re probably my best bet. My home airports are Truckee and Gnoss Field, in Marin, and you’re right in-between.

[@lessharratt8719]

Thank you Dianna. You rock.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, it was great to borrow that bird and give it a run around the pattern

[@flyman1185]

You should fly the B-52 next. Looks like you already have the pattern down for it.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It was not as flat an approach as it looks on the wide angle camera.

[@flyman1185]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 Sorry, that was mean. That was a great review of a great aircraft.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

@@flyman1185 Thanks. No worries.

[@rauldiaz3193]

I was wondering if you could find a Wilga .

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That would be up to a Wilga owner coming here to show his plane.

[@FRIENDHORATIO1]

Nice

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Thanks

[@MrJDP1974]

Is it not O-470 powered? Just curious as to why it would not have a constant speed prop.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

They were fixed pitch for simplicity. Some of the later after-market Ector Bird Dogs had constant speed props.

[@MrJDP1974]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 Interesting! I simply never noticed. Thanks!

[@topper33481]

The D models are constant speed. The A, E and G’s are fixed pitch. Mine was a G in Vietnam which I preferred for outstanding climb away from the target.

[@carlbuick]

There were several models and at least one had a constant speed prop@@skywagonuniversity5023

[@Rickinsf]

High marks to KZbin for inserting an ad just before touchdown.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

A real cliffhanger?

[@bkailua1224]

Having flown the B dog towing gliders for 7 years in crosswinds, it will be interesting to see if this person really knows how to land one. First, no reason to use flaps during takeoff on a long runway with only one person in the cockpit. On landing, abeam touchdown point at 800 AGL power 1500 rpm make a 180 turn with full flaps sliping and you will put it on the numbers. Make a flat approach and you will never make the runway with an engine failure. Nice wheel landing, if you try to 3 point it in a crosswind you will be doing a lot of repair work on a broken B dog.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

I got away with it.

[@topper3348]

"if you try to 3 point it in a crosswind you will be doing a lot of repair work on a broken B dog."" I beg to differ sir. In VN I flew her from a very short and very narrow strip in Rach Gia for a year. Winds were very unpredictable as the Gulf of Siam was next to my strip. I always used 3-point full stall landings and had control all the way through. Never dinged or damaged my Birddog.

[@markbattista6857]

Great job, your a lucky dude. I forgot if that was the same L 19 you did a walk around video of ?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes, It was the same one. It lives here at Placerville.

[@mattwoody1089]

Just another tandem!

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

But a great one.

[@antonioiozzi291]

Where is this wonderful airport?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's Placerville Airport in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 35 miles East of Sacramento in Northern California, KPVF. Not a lot here but a great location.

[@antonioiozzi291]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 for those who lives in Europe US airports are all big .....

[@klrmoto]

Can you get Diannia to show us how to land it?

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

She can if she wants to.

[@rhkennerly]

You’re a good enough looking guy, but the view forward over your shoulder with the panel is more interesting for pilots.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

That is very true and what I originally wanted to do. We will do more of that next time.

[@hulado]

had you lost the engine when turning final i don't think you would have made the runway.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

It's actually a flattened Wide angle fish-eye lens that makes it look like that. I had plenty of hight in reality.

[@hulado]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 thanks for the clarification

[@martyhill8342]

Full Flaps on a Bird Dog is 70 degrees. It will land surprisingly short! Not for the feint of heart!

[@topper3348]

60 degrees.

[@robertleslie2467]

Correction. Me sooo stupid. You and Juan already fly together.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

No worries.

[@brianwilgus8363]

Speaking of engine failure on approach. Your final looked very low. If you had had engine failure on final if you would have never made the runway.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Don the Camera Guy here. When we flatten out the video in post production, it makes the plane look low. We do appreciate the concern, but keep in mind that Mark has thousands of hours of safe flying in the books.

[@mikemondrik2041]

Did you say Diane passed if not tell her hello from port lavaca went to shank and bank. Work rt next to it

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Erm, No she is doing very well.

[@mikemondrik2041]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 good please tell her hello

[@stubryant9145]

Disappointed you didn't deploy some ordnance, at least some smoke rockets, Mark. 😅

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

She wasn't loaded.

[@dulcevendetta]

those are some awesome drone shots... drone operator on the radio? lol

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Yes and yes

[@dulcevendetta]

@@skywagonuniversity5023 i figured lol

[@daveward1484]

This would have been a much more interesting video with a forward looking camera.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Since this video, we bought one more camera for just that reason. - Don the Camera Guy.

[@johnbrez5067]

Re "apart from being shot at" - in service they were rarely shot at due to ability to mark (white phosphorus) and call in the F-4s, made much more less to avoid them.

[@GRW3]

According to the book on L19/O1 aircraft I have, over 400 were lost in Viet Nam.

[@topper3348]

Sorry John, but I disagree with "in service they were rarely shot at". I flew the O-1G in Vietnam from Feb. '69-Feb '70 as Shotgun 33 with the 221st Recon Airplane Company. If you read any one of several books on the military (Vietnam) use of the O-1, or speak to any Birddog pilot with combat experience, you will discover that being shot at was a daily way of life. If you weren't being shot at, you weren't doing your job effectively. Essentially, we were "trolling" for the VC or NVA to shoot at us, thus enabling us to find the enemy and take whatever action was needed to destroy him. Read " A Hundred Feet Over Hell", or even my book "Delta Shotgun" and discover a true warbird. Please do some research before putting out statements that some others will take as the gospel. Thank you.

[@johnbrez5067]

@@topper3348 I doubt anyone is taking my words as gospel (let's hope not anyway).. I was told this at some point back when I was flying a Bird Dog (general aviation) though it was from a Huey pilot who had been shot down 3 times..

[@tomcoryell]

@@johnbrez5067 If he was only shot down 3 times in Vietnam, he was a lucky Huey pilot. Was he a MedEvac pilot?

[@phapnui]

@@topper3348 You had something in common with loach pilots, troll the VC. Low and slow. "If you don't have bamboo or branches in your skids you were flying too high."

[@Kenriko]

1st

[@bernardanderson3758]

Let Diana know that can she let me fly her Bird dog

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We think you just did that.

[@layanglayang8918]

How about actually teaching us something? Like control response, stability, climb angle, ergonomics... Watching some guy sitting is not very instructive.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

Hi Layang! We'd love to do videos like that, but we are not flight instructors. We think you can see things like ergonomics (it was a military bird), control responses as they are input, climb angle, and stability from watching the video. We're sorry you didn't enjoy the video, but hope you'll stay with us.

[@skywagonuniversity5023]

We wanted to let you know we've got a couple of educational videos that will be up tomorrow morning, covering a few ADs on Cessnas. Hope you'll tune in!