https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_O-1_Bird_Dog
Military service
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) ordered 3,200 L-19s that were
built between 1950 and 1959, entering both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps
inventories, initially designated as OE-1s in the Marine Corps until all US
military aircraft designations were standardized in 1962. The aircraft were used
in various utility roles such as artillery spotting, front line communications,
medevac and training.
In 1962, the Army L-19 and Marine Corps OE-1 was redesignated the O-1
(Observation) Bird Dog and entered the war in Vietnam. During the early 1960s,
the Bird Dog was flown by South Vietnamese (ARVN-Army Republic Vietnam/SVAF
South Vietnamese Air Force), U.S. Army, and U.S. Marines in South Vietnam and
later by clandestine forward air controllers (e.g., Ravens) in Laos and
Cambodia. Because of its short takeoff and landing (STOL) and low altitude/low
airspeed capabilities, the O-1 also later found its way into U.S. Air Force
service as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) aircraft for vectoring faster fighter
and attack aircraft and supporting combat search-and-rescue operations
recovering downed aircrews.
During the Vietnam War the Bird Dog was used primarily for reconnaissance,
target acquisition, artillery adjustment, radio relay, convoy escort and the
forward air control of tactical aircraft, to include bombers operating in a
tactical role.
Specifications (O-1E)
Instrument panel of an O-1
General characteristics
Crew: one/two
Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.88 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.23 m)
Empty weight: 1,614 lb (734 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,430 lb (1105 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 115 mph (100 knots, 185 km/h)
Cruise speed: 104 mph (87 knots, 167 km/h)
Stall speed: 54 mph (47 knots, 87 km/h)
Range: 530 miles (460 nmi, 853 km)
Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s)
Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 560 ft (170 m)
Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 600 ft (180 m)
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