1/3-Scale Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog" Kit by Peter Goldsmith Designs

[Zsolomon]

Hi Jim,
I was reading through your build thread twice... just to make sure I did not missed that piece of information.
They only thing I can say about it : amazing work!!!
Stay safe.
Zvi

[JimD]

Okay, I have the answer!

Hangar 9 Titanium 4-40 Pro-Links used on Peter Goldsmith Designs L-19:

(2) Ailerons = 2-1/2"
(2) Flaps = 3-1/2"
(2) Elevators = 3-1/2"
(1) Tow Hook = 4" (with threaded section removed form one end.

DuBro 4-40 Ball Links were used on both ends of control rods on my plane. Peter used a steel clevis on one end of his on the flaps.

[Zsolomon]

Thank you so much.

[JimD]

2020 has been a crazy year and I must apologize for sort of dropping out of sight on the forum. The Cessna L-19 Bird Dog has long been the plane I most wanted and when Peter sent me the first kit, I thought it would be finished and flying in about 7 weeks...then life happened!!!

Anyway, the L-19 was finished and successfully flown. Wanted to add a few comments about my plane and what our impressions are after getting some flight time.

The first thing is the power...the DA-150 produces gobs of power, almost scary amounts of power. The L-19 would be perfectly happy to fly on a DA-100, however, we have gotten accustomed to overpowered tow planes and this one will be no exception!

Balance for ours is right dead center on the wing tube. Seems very happy balanced here, floats in nice for landings without wanting to drop the nose hard as it slows down. Both wheel landings and 3-point stall in landings work fine and the flaps do a great job slowing things down. We've got over 50 degrees at full deflection.

The L-19 is very light and quick on the controls causing us to decrease the end points of travel on ailerons, elevators, and rudder after the initial flight. It does like a significant amount of down trim elevator compensation with flaps and we increased this some and then a bit more to get it just right for our taste.

With anything above 1/3-throttle, the DA-150 plus the high lift wings want to take the L-19 up into the clouds in a hurry. We were a bit surprised at just how fast the L-19 will fly, surely no need to be romping on the throttle.

The plane is very stable and responsive, but it does like a bit a rudder coordinated with aileron inputs to produce a nice track around the turns. You can cheat by adding aileron to rudder mixing if you must!

I am well pleased an still consider the L-19 one of my favorite looking planes...it is just so darn cute!!!

​​​​​​​

[gunny11]

OUTSTANDING Jim! Looks awsome in the air too.

[stevekremer]

Looks great Jim! Cant wait to see it in person

[JimD]

Flaps down, turning base...just another day at the office!

[JimD]

Up, up, and away...

[JimD]

Got Flaps?

[lenb]

Bravo Jim,

Another beautiful plane!

[JimD]

Peter Goldsmith Designs kits that I have built since February, 2018.

[Sinkhappens86]

Awesome Jim, can't wait to see it in action at Muncy.

[JimD]

After more flight time and a consultation with Peter, we decided to move the CG a bit forward. My plane balanced on the center of the wing tube while Peter's balance point is at the front of the wing tube. 10-1/2" oz. was added to the front of the wooden engine box bringing the CG forward about 3/8".

Flight performance was much improved with less rudder input needed to coordinate the turns, the slight down trim we were flying with was no longer needed, and 3-point landing capability was improved as was slow flight. Looks like the sweet spot for CG is going to be about half way between the center and the front of the wing tube.

[JimD]

On a beautiful September evening, our Cessna L-19, Cmelak, and Schweizer TG-3 enjoyed some flight time.

[JimD]

After some experimentation with props, we have settled on a carbon Mejzlik 32x10 on the DA-150. Seems to be the best overall performance for our taste. got more flight time on a beautiful summer evening at the HighPoint Airfield.