Lovable One-Niner: A Complete History of the Cessna L-19 Birddog, The

Flight Journal, Aug 2000 by DeGroat, Robert S

The Lovable One-Niner: A Complete History of the Cessna L-19 Birddog by Minard D. Thompson Jr. Turner Publishing Co., 412 Broadway, P.O. Box 3101, Paducah, KY 42002-3101; 272 pages, more than 500 b&w photographs and 130 color photographs; $49.95 (plus $6 S&H).

It has been a long, uphill battle. For years, "warbird" referred only to those glamorous fighters and bombers of the WW II era. The world of aviation is obviously much larger than that, and the word now encompasses all breeds that have worn military insignia or paint schemes.

Enthusiastic operators and owners of trainers-and liaison birds in particular-are finding new popularity at airshows as people begin to recognize the roles these planes played. One beneficiary of all this is the Cessna L-19 Birddog.

Here is an unsung aircraft with a proud military heritage. Despite its being slow and unarmed, it won the respect from those FACs who flew it. Its history is dotted with references to such mysterious call signs as "Covey," "Cricket" and Raven." Current operators and owners find they have quite a secret wonder in their hands when they realize they can fly one for almost nothing and experience what true flying is all about. And it is great fun.

Recently, the acknowledged expert on all things Birddog published an excellent account of this classic Cessna design. Minard D. Thompson Jr. spent the last 11 years documenting his favorite subject, and the result is the almost encyclopedic "The Lovable One-Niner: A Complete History of the Cessna L-19 Birddog." The sheer volume of information is overwhelming.

A general history of the L-19 ranges from its obvious active duty with the U.S. military to those many other countries it has served. There are detailed specifications, serial-number lists, information on military paint schemes and avionics particulars-even some just-for-- fun "then and now" photos of the many surviving airframes.

The subtitle says it all; it is, indeed, a complete history of the L-19, whose legendary status is well deserved. Of value to both enthusiasts and historians, this is a great story about a little-known aviation success.

-Robert S. DeGroat