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allysonca

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About allysonca

  • Birthday 06/28/1949

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  1. For using the O-2A as a civilian there would be a LOT of work if not impossible. The B model (called the bullshit bomber) was an off the shelf 337 with a large amplifier and speaker that was at the rear where the cargo door was. Used for psy-ops It lacked all the windows. There were only 2 seats in the aircraft, and both were either armor plated or military that accommodated a seat pack chute. The seat rails were there but no seats. OH.. and important... the A models had basically a pair of metal clad 2x4's on the belly so one could land wheels up with no damage.... and it worked as the Dr. who bought my plane had to do just that once. No spinners on the props either. There were windows on the door, and the overhead, and the instrument panel was all military and not even close to the civil version. In the rear right was a rather large radio rack on the left that took up a lot of space, and if it were a late 68-69 model there was a wonderful large bubble window that allowed the pilot to look down. And don't forget the 4 hard points and shackles for the Willie Petes. I kept my 1969 for a long time, but always enjoyed the Birddog as my pick of the litter. Way more fun. By the way, even though the Birddog was based on the Cessna 170, it had a tapered tandem cabin so the pilot could look down either side, but the O2 had to have extensive mods to accomplish this feature on the left side only. The door windows allowed for a view, but only with a bank turn. I hope they give us the bubble version, it's the least like the 337.
  2. My fav Birddog was a D model that was fresh out of CAP and had dual service in the Army and Air Force during its career. It was medium green inside as were all L-19's I've ever seen. Most of us restored the interiors in Black or green, but I always thought the black was better with grey panels. Instrument panels were black or grey. All the interior vinyl panels were Green as well by the way. The first E model I owned was an Ex French aircraft and they were black interiors with the green panels. I think they came this was as when I was stripping the interior I never exposed any green paint. They also added neet little floor vents to get more air inside that I utilized on my D model as well. Got pretty toasty in the foot area. The 1955 OE2 I just bought that we are restoring is green interior and grey instrument panel, but the upholstery panels are a light sage color kevlar with triangular stitch patters.
  3. Having owned and restored 3 different Cessna Birddogs, (2) E models and (1) very rare TL19D that I owned for over 20 years, and (5) various Cessna O-2a's from 1967- 1969 I am somewhat of an expert on these. We currently are restoring an OE-2 that is the proverbial hen's tooth aircraft. The D model Birddog has some very subtle differences like the shape of the cowl inlet (larger) and the size of the cowl bump (bigger) as well the shape of the rear observers window that makes it very distinct. Of course the constant speed prop is a given over the fixed pitch. IF Rodan is intending to do the variations please be aware of these differences. Model Airplane News featured a scale drawing of my D model plane. It was completely wrong in the render. Tail code number 72776 in the render was my D model and not the A model shown. Perhaps a separate rear observation window to make both version, a cowl cut out and cowl bump that can be both sizes, and both props, and a bunch of antenna and ADF covers would be in order. Oh, and don't forget the horizontal bullets with the antennas. The A and the E were essentially the same but for the heavy wing and heavy gear legs that to a casual observer (or expert for that matter) would find hard to discern, and differing antenna configurations for the appropriate years would be in order. As to the O-2's, my favorite of the bunch I owned was my 1969 that not only had the observation windows on the door and the uppers, but it had a large bubble window on the left pilots side that made the plane quite different to the standard off the shelf Cessna 337/O-2A and B models. Antenna's were all the same…….. So PLEASE give us the later version It is not the off the shelf Cessna 337, but a unique model.
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