The Canadian Forces Air Command* are the only military force still utilising Cessna’s sixty years old L-19 Birddog. On a recent visit to the USA, Editor Rob Fox discovers –
‘you really can teach an old dog new tricks’.
A recent heart transplant, a new upgraded engine installation, and other new modifications will now give the CAF’s venerable L-19 fleet a new lease on life. Cessna’s 1949 design harks back to combat roles in Korea and Vietnam and in retirement, the L-19 is a sought-after type in the Warbird fraternity. Steve Noyes of Newbury, Massachusetts, USA is a long time Birddog restorer and operator. He has also, for the last decade, been supplying the CAF with parts to support their Air Cadet League Birddogs used to tow gliders and for advanced powered training.
“I had been dealing with Maj. Cheri Carol from the Canadian west coast,” Steve told Flightpath, when we visited his facility on historic Plum Island Airport, “As time passed by, she mentioned on more than one occasion that the engines on their fleet of Birddogs were getting tired and that parts necessary for continued support of the 0-470-11 engine of 213 HP were getting hard - if not impossible - to obtain”.
The CAF had done a survey on the airframes and found these were good for at least another 30 or so years, but sadly they were going to have to stop using such a great tow-plane just because they couldn’t keep its heart going. Other types had been tried but nothing seemed to work quite as well as their Birddogs.
SUPER MOUNTAINEER
“I had heard rumors about the Ector Super Mountaineer, a modified L-19A model Birddog that sported a 250 Hp Lycoming 0-540 engine”, Steve continued. “Eventually I was able to acquire a ‘slightly’ damaged one and begin its restoration. I have since acquired the rights to it and the STC**. I have included modern oil coolers, lightweight electrical accessories and a quiet three-blade Hartzell constant speed propeller to the STC and re-named it a ‘Superdog’.”
News of the Superdog soon spread and Steve received a call from Maj. Mario Deslandes the chief mechanic in charge of the CAF’s Montréal-side Birddogs. “He asked if I could fly to their facility at St. Jean Garrison, and make a demonstration flight to see about possibly re-powering their fleet of Birddogs. On July 22, after the weather cleared, we headed north across New Hampshire and Vermont and when I arrived at St. Jean there were Majors, Capt’s and Colonels from all over Canada there to witness the demonstration. No pressure!”
THE DEMONSTRATION
“I was introduced to the air-ops boss, (Eastern Region Standards Officer) Capt Bert Seguin. Procedures were pretty much the same as we use at home, except for the army of ground crew! After the brief, we headed for the tarmac for a pre flight and weight inspection and calculations so we could outfit one of their Birddogs to the same configuration as my own.
In just under three hours, I did 15 tows with Capt Seguin in the back seat. Later Capt Seguin got to put the Superdog through its paces, and he was duly impressed with the smoothness and performance”.
When Flightpath visited Steve in late July, he was deeply involved in converting the first CAF Birddog. They have since taken delivery of their new ‘Superdog’, and are very impressed. Major Mario Deslandes, the Regional chief engineering officer, for the Regional Cadets Support Unit, Eastern St Jean Garrison, Richelain, QC, Canada, said “We are very satisfied with our Superdog so far. The installation kit is very well done and the aircraft is flying great. The Lycoming engine is faster than the old Continental engine. Once our pilots know how to handle the increase in power and the Hartzell constant speed propeller, they love it. Maintenance on the Lycoming engine is very easy and we now have the support of the engine manufacturer. Our Birddogs work hard towing gliders all day and we believe the Superdog will accomplish the mission more efficiently than its predecessor.”
“We have one Superdog, one ‘wannabe’ Superdog and four (standard) Birddogs for a total of six. The home base is located in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, province of Quebec, Canada. From April to November, they fly in Smith Falls (Ontario), Lachute, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Drummondville, Bromont and Valcartier”. They are:
C-FTGC, serial # 23475, 16 700 hours CAF Bureau Number # 16705
C-FTGE, serial # 23477, 14 160 hours 16707
C-FTGN, serial # 24601, 17 145 hours 16717
C-FTGV, serial # 23648 , 11 600 hours 16733
C-FTZZ, serial # esther1 (rebuilt), 6 290 hours
C-GGCY, serial # 2028 (Ector), 5 505 hours
The Atlantic region (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island) has four Birddogs and Pacific region (British Colombia) have five Birddogs. The CAF operate sixteen L-19 Birddogs and the Superdog conversion will eventually be made fleet-wide.
Steve Noyes has had a long association with Birddogs and explained his enthusiasm for the aircraft. “Growing up living at the north end of my grass strip (Plum Island), I used to watch the planes towing the sky signs fly by the house every few minutes. I would sneak through the back yard to help the guys set up the signs, which were being towed by Birddogs. When times at the banner room were slow, I would be sent over to the mechanic’s house to help with stripping the paint off of Birddog tail surfaces. It was 1976 and I was 12, but I knew instantly that someday I had to have one.” Steve has since completed numerous L-19 restorations and also helps maintain many in the New England region of North America.
This new upgrade has certainly given an old dog a bright new life and one that will see it continuing its sterling work, in a vital role, helping future generations of CAF cadets to get their wings.
