Cessna L-19 Bird Dog (EC-MAB)

Simply beautiful

BEAUTIFUL PHOTO GREAT AIRCRAFT

Reminds me of an O-1E Bird Dog the Army flew in the vicinity of the Tuy Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam, circa 1968. However on the cowling of that aircraft was painted "the finger". When crossing the U.S. Base low altitude heading south to a nearby Army airfield, the pilot would aim the aircraft directly at our Control Tower then pull-up at just the last moment to "shoot us the bird".

Love this plane! Have many hours in type and keep your feet high on the peddles ready to tap the brakes.It will bite you real quick and is the touchiest taildragger I know. A real pleasure to fly.

FLEW THE BIRD DOG A LOT. EVEN W/O THE PAINT IT WAS SIMPLE,FUN AND A GREAT TRAINER FOR ALL PILOTS.

Repeated over and over from Army Bird Doc FACs in SVN:
"Hit my smoke."
An unsung hero of that war.

The L-19, was my type in the CAP!

Worked with a few of them in 68 I Corps mostly dawn or dusk
Spooky