Jim Bob White gives us a walkaround of this beautiful O-1 Birddog. These planes flew as FAC's during the Vietnam War. Those pilots had guts to fly that low and slow.
We were lucky enough to receive from the Air Force an L-19 Birddog that was destined for Vietnam when the war ended. There were several that were ready to ship overseas and when that was cancelled they were distributed to various Air Force Aux. units. We were lucky because we had a retired SR-71 officer that obtained one for our Nevada Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. I couldn't wait to check out in it and the first thing I recall was the enormous tall and broad stick the plane had with several radio talk switches mounted on the hand grip. It was a wonderful ship to fly and could put don almost anywhere. Take offs were no problem either. Slow flight and slow flight maneuvering proved it to be a complete gem. I loved flying it and every chance I got I'd sign in and up for the Bird Dog. When didn't have Willie Petes of course but all the switches and the wing hard points were there and I think they could have been read for action with just a few hours of dedicated work. Our ship was paint olive drab and looked like the one above. It seemed to be very new, I don't know what year it was built. I checked out in it in the spring of 74. Again, I'll never forget the tall and broad stick that seemed at first an obstacle but later it proved itself to by very functional and the length made it's moment arm very effective. It had plenty of power but we always few it well below gross weight. In aircraft search and rescue you couldn't find many better aircraft for the mission. It would loiter and slow flight for long periods of time and wouldn't be hard on the pilot. Great plane, great history.
Fantastic! Mr. White's laconic narration of this famous aircraft and it's famous pilots gives deserved merit and acclaim to the absolute guts and fearlessness these 'FACS' demonstrated day in and day out in the Vietnam maelstrom....imagine treetop level, low and slow, and loitering on target while being shot at with only your guts for defense....Men, real tough, brave men....We salute those brave souls
Cool plane! Looking at the MLG, and knowing my tendency to get a bit slow on final, I'd probably wind up skipping down a runway like a flat rock across a pond. The men who flew them were better pilots than I am. Definitely bigger cojones.
De-mil'ed versions, after being equipped with a glider towhook above the tail wheel, easily towed aloft everything from single-place 1-26s to fully loaded two-place TG-3s, Pratt-Reads, and 2-32s. Lovely birds. Just don't try touch-and-goes with full 60degree flaps.
Hi Erik.......most Bird Dogs I see have a longish whip antenna onto of the top of cockpit.....arching back in the head wind. What radio was that for and frequency. I am a UK Radio Ham.
Shh... if you keep this up, americans will find out that it were the nazis that made it to the moon, not them (most of those scientists were Germans from nazi Germany).
Regretfully, this is not much of a "walkaround". Excessive verbiage and very little visualization of aircraft detail for those wishing to see construction and layout.
I grew up flying in that Bird Dog my father did the restoration on it in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Lots of great memories.
Been wanting to see a O-1 Birddog walkaround for ages. great video!
Thank you Erik, your work preserving the stories and knowledge of our aviators and planes is so important!
We were lucky enough to receive from the Air Force an L-19 Birddog that was destined for Vietnam when the war ended. There were several that were ready to ship overseas and when that was cancelled they were distributed to various Air Force Aux. units. We were lucky because we had a retired SR-71 officer that obtained one for our Nevada Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. I couldn't wait to check out in it and the first thing I recall was the enormous tall and broad stick the plane had with several radio talk switches mounted on the hand grip. It was a wonderful ship to fly and could put don almost anywhere. Take offs were no problem either. Slow flight and slow flight maneuvering proved it to be a complete gem. I loved flying it and every chance I got I'd sign in and up for the Bird Dog. When didn't have Willie Petes of course but all the switches and the wing hard points were there and I think they could have been read for action with just a few hours of dedicated work. Our ship was paint olive drab and looked like the one above. It seemed to be very new, I don't know what year it was built. I checked out in it in the spring of 74. Again, I'll never forget the tall and broad stick that seemed at first an obstacle but later it proved itself to by very functional and the length made it's moment arm very effective. It had plenty of power but we always few it well below gross weight. In aircraft search and rescue you couldn't find many better aircraft for the mission. It would loiter and slow flight for long periods of time and wouldn't be hard on the pilot. Great plane, great history.
My dad flew O-1s in Laos during the conflict, marking targets on the Ho Chi Minh trail. Thanks for posting!
Fantastic! Mr. White's laconic narration of this famous aircraft and it's famous pilots gives deserved merit and acclaim to the absolute guts and fearlessness these 'FACS' demonstrated day in and day out in the Vietnam maelstrom....imagine treetop level, low and slow, and loitering on target while being shot at with only your guts for defense....Men, real tough, brave men....We salute those brave souls
I love the Birddog! I have a few hours in one that the Fort Riley Flying Club had on loan when they were deactivated.
My favourite plane to fly. Have approx. 250 hours on type, primarily towing gliders.
Cool plane! Looking at the MLG, and knowing my tendency to get a bit slow on final, I'd probably wind up skipping down a runway like a flat rock across a pond. The men who flew them were better pilots than I am. Definitely bigger cojones.
De-mil'ed versions, after being equipped with a glider towhook above the tail wheel, easily towed aloft everything from single-place 1-26s to fully loaded two-place TG-3s, Pratt-Reads, and 2-32s. Lovely birds. Just don't try touch-and-goes with full 60degree flaps.
Hi Erik.......most Bird Dogs I see have a longish whip antenna onto of the top of cockpit.....arching back in the head wind.
What radio was that for and frequency.
I am a UK Radio Ham.
Great video man!
Dick Gibson Thanks! Glad you liked it!!
specs are pretty close to my 1953 cessna 170B except its a 4 place with a 180hp engine and a constant speed prop
Andrew Wilkey ... These had a Continental O-470 at 213 hp. Some had constant speed props.
the way I look at this plane. an American storch
Shh... if you keep this up, americans will find out that it were the nazis that made it to the moon, not them (most of those scientists were Germans from nazi Germany).
LOVE!
Regretfully, this is not much of a "walkaround". Excessive verbiage and very little visualization of aircraft detail for those wishing to see construction and layout.