I would like to ask our experts to help compile the lists of avionics used in various versions of the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog in Nam.
O-1A - unknown avionics
O-1B - unknown avionics
O-1C - an undated Marines' SAC document suggests that the plane used the following avionics:
O-1D USAF FAC - unknown avionics
O-1E - unknown avionics
O-1F USAF FAC version - unknown avionics
O-1G USAF FAC version
Did the setup in South Vietnamese AF Bird Dogs differ significantly from the US ones?
O-1A - unknown avionics
O-1B - unknown avionics
O-1C - an undated Marines' SAC document suggests that the plane used the following avionics:
R-14B ADF of unknown make, perhaps Aircraft Radio Corp.
Aircraft Radio Corp. Type 12 VHF AM COMM
and FM comms in the form of manpack FM army field radios AN/PRC-8 or AN/PRC-9, or AN/PRC-10.
O-1D USAF FAC - unknown avionics
Guessing from twin whip antennas mounted on the wings, two FM sets could have been used.
O-1E - unknown avionics
This website https://modeltalking.hobbyart.sk/?p=5575 shows, I guess, Austrian O-1E, with older type FM radio, the AN/ARC-44.
And if this http://www.flying-wings.com/o-1e-bird-dog restoration was accurate, the avionics suite consisted of the following items:
right hand console:
C-8157/KY-28 secure voice
AN/ARC-51 UHF
AN/ARC-134 VHF (aka Wilcox 807A)
left hand console:
AN/ARC-44 FM
AN/ARN-59 ADF
ICS (audio distribution panel) - unknown type
O-1F USAF FAC version - unknown avionics
Perhaps this Bird Dog version used the AN/ARC-54 FM radio.
O-1G USAF FAC version
This website https://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2015/10/23/cessna-o-1g-bird-dog-vh-xvb/ suggests that the plane was packed with hi-tech avionics and used the following radios:
AN/ARN-59 ADF for navigation
AN/ARC-131 FM
and unknown type UHF and VHF radios I guess from the blade antenna mounted on the fuselage.
Did the setup in South Vietnamese AF Bird Dogs differ significantly from the US ones?
Last edited:
