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Is is a Bird? Is it a Dog? It's a Bird Dog!
Dana Brejakova, Contributing Writer & Photographer

"Let's go, check out the Bird Dog that just arrived.", Jimmy the Squirrel announced.

A Bird Dog? That Cessna surveillance bird used by U.S. Army and USAF several decades ago?

"Heck yeah, let's go check her out!", I yelled back making sure Jimmy heard me clearly as he was already in the door. While running around grabbing my keys, wallet, sunglasses, and phone, I was wondering if that particular bird had some of those cool U.S. Army insignias, star logos, and maybe some original additions too. As I was wondering, I remembered to stuff my big camera in my duffel bag.

Before I move forward with the story, here is a brief introduction of the airplane:

This particular Bird Dog (Cessna L-19, model E) was flown here to stay for a while as she was scheduled for some work to be done. The mission was to revamp the original instrument panel by installing some of the latest electronic navigation gadgets plus a GPS navigatior upgrade for the back seater. This Bird Dog's owner - our friend who is an Army aviator veteran and who used to own several of these aircraft back in the day - bought this particular one to keep. So here she was. Ready to be upgraded.

"Golly! Look at her!", I loudly summed up my first impression of the bird to Jimmy. The aircraft looked exactly as I imagined it and even better. U.S. Army insignias, big star logo on the wings, all kinds of painted instructions along the fuselage in yellow color, and several bad-ass additions too. Happy as a little bunny I was hopping around as I knew I was about to acquire some cool shots. Even though I am almost 40 years old (how did that happen?), I am still that little enthused kid when I am around airplanes. I have no idea what it is or what it means, I only know I love it.

There it was - the yellow U.S. ARMY sign!
There it was - The STAR and BARS!
There I was, peeking under the STAR and BARS! Hahaha. Gosh, it is bigger than I thought!
Detail of the bird's tail. U.S. Army insignias looked awesome in this color combo.
Check out all those written instructions and information. Yup, definitely a military aircraft.
Walking around the bird finding more details such as this cool sticker.
Bad-ass addition. You do not want to mess with this crew.
Full display on instructions on what type of fuel this bird likes. I love how here and there certain instructions pop out along the fuselage - just to be sure no one messes anything up, huh?
Retro looking fuel gauge at the wing root caught my attention while peeking in.

Quite a rare bird this is. According to certain sources, around 3,400 Cessna L-19's were made. After completing their military missions, many were sold as surplus. However, this particular one has even more interesting story to tell. In late 50's, the French ordered Bird Dogs from the Cessna factory demanding a few different modifications. Therefore, this Bird Dog comes with different specs such as: heavier wing, electrical flaps, fire extinguisher system in the engine compartment, and a removable cowl intake scoop. After delivering the aircraft to France, this particular bird was moved to several different stations within Germany, France, and North of Africa. In 1983, a dozen were sold back to USA where our friend bought it last year. According to a mysterious story our friend shared with us, there was a French superstitious tradition in order to bring good luck to the Bird Dog for the time of serving in the French Army. The first Frenchman to fly the aircraft had to put three French coins in the bottom of the floor of the fuselage to be on Lady Fortune's good side. The previous owner with his wife were curious and tried to find them under the pilot's seat. And now our friend is thinking of more detailed investigation of the fuselage. That would be something if he found them! I, myself, wonder if those coins are really in there somewhere. The upcoming annual may tell.

I could not believe my luck. Such a rare bird with such rich history was just taxiing in front of my nose. Wow! I had a wonderful opportunity to smell the army paint and enjoy the spacious cockpit while hopping a ride. What one can see and experience around here! As a quite tall person, I give this Bird Dog "A tall person can comfortably sit in this aircraft" seal of approval. With my height, long legs and arms I usually just find my position in the aircraft and do not dare to move ... much. Because if I do, I usually hit my elbow, my knee, or pull some muscle group I had no idea I even had. What a hoot. Don't get me wrong, I gladly take all these little discomforts because I love flying. The joy of flight over rules everything, of course. However, this Bird Dog was a different animal. Space all around me! Wonderful.

TLC time. The Bird Dog was docked in the shop getting her panel revamped and vacuum system removed.
One more shot of U.S. Army insignias.
One more pic of the Star and bars. Can you spot the rocket rail?
A little helper in the shop. That tiny, however, mighty robot locks the tail wheel and lets you maneuver the bird by pushing buttons and pulling levers on the remote control. No tug, no pushing. Always fun to watch people going into meerkat curiosity mode as they see an aircraft moving by itself (sort of).

After several months spent in the local shop, it was time to break the new additions in and to perform some test flights. Of course, I could not miss those.

Oil temperature check during the runup.
While the runup was in full speed, I was mostly focused on getting that darn full propeller disc. Almost there. The secret is to make the Sun your team mate (which is almost always the case when it comes to photography - the light is everything, am I right fellow photographers?). Once the Sun hit the propeller all I needed to do was to adjust the shutter speed according to RPM and voila.
All systems go, she is purring just right.
Ta-daaah! Check out the upgraded panel. New electronic additions to old steam gauge instruments. Old school meets modern ways. Sweat, blood, hard work, and several "Gosh, darn its" paid off - the panel works and looks awesome. Great job, everyone.
Buttoned up, ready for a few more engine warm ups.
All looks great, time to get her on a roll and airborne.
There she was happily roaring above my head.
Test flight successfully completed. She was ready to be hauled back home.
A bird and a dog. It's a Bird Dog! LOL. Almost a poetic ambiance, would not you agree? When I look at this photo I almost hear that velvety deep narrating voice saying, "The things they will see and places they will go." Fare-well little bird.
By Dana Brejakova, Contributing Writer & Photographer
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