L-5 Sentinel

Infobox Aircraft
name= L-5 Sentinel


caption=
type= Liaison / Observation / Light plane
manufacturer= Stinson
designer=
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=1942-1945
number built=over 3,896
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=

The USA light aircraft L-5 Sentinel began life as the pre-war Stinson model 105. The model 105 was nicknamed "Voyager", built by the Stinson division of Consolidated Vultee. When the war broke out, the Voyager was redesigned and then entered into service as a liaison aircraft. It also flew in the artillery spotter role and as an air ambulance. The later model L-5s had their fuselages modified to accommodate one stretcher patient.

The L-5 was manufactured between October 1942 and September 1945, during which time a total of over 3,896 of these unarmed, two-seat aircraft were built for the United States armed forces, making it the second most widely used light observation aircraft of the war. Personnel in all service branches commonly referred to it as the "Flying Jeep".

The L-5 was primarily constructed from steel tubing and plywood and was covered with doped cotton fabric.

Development

Operational history

Capable of operating from forward unimproved airstrips, the L-5 "Sentinel" delivered information and needed supplies to the front line troops. On the return trip, she would evacuate the badly wounded soldiers to rear area field hospitals for medical attention.

Variants

Five versions were produced for the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF); the L-5, L-5B, L-5C, L-5E and L-5G. There was no L-5A variant as is often reported. The L-5 carried a pilot and observer in a tandem seating configuration. The L-5B through L-5G models were modified to carry a litter patient or light cargo, or a rear seat passenger sitting in the normal position. The Navy and Marine versions of the airplane were the OY-1 and OY-2. The latter differed from all others in that it had a 24 volt electrical system instead of the standard 12 volts. The British procured 40 L-5s, known as Sentinel Is, and 60 L-5Bs known as Sentinel IIs.

;O-62 Sentinel:Observation, artillery spotting and liaison aircraft, powered by a Lycoming 0-431-5-1 piston engine. 275 built.;L-5 Sentinel:Observation, artillery spotting and liaison aircraft. 1,456 built.;L-5A Sentinel:688 L-5s were fitted with a revised electrical system.;L-5B Sentinel:679 aircraft with modified rear fuselage to permit loading of a strecher.;L-5C Sentinel:200 aircraft were equipped with a reconnaisance camera.;L-5E Sentinel:558 aircraft were equipped with ailerons that drooped with flap extensions.;L-5G Sentinel:Similar to the L-5E, powered by a 142-kW (190-hp) Lycoming 0-431-11 piston engine. 115 built.;XL-5 Sentinel:One test and evaluation aircraft, powered by a Lycoming 0-436-2 piston engine.;U-19A Sentinel:All surviving L-5 Sentinels were redesignated U-19A by the USAF in 1962.;U-19B Sentinel :One L-5 Sentinel was being used as a glider tug at the United States Air Force Academy in 1962.;OY-1 Sentinel:306 L-5s were supplied to the United States Marine Corps and 152 to the United States Navy.;OY-2 Sentinel:30 OY-1s with only minor equipment changes.;Sentinel Mk I:40 L-5s were supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease.;Sentinel Mk II:60 L-5Bs were supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease.

Aircraft markings

Standard camouflage as delivered from the factory was non-specular medium gray undersides with olive drab above, broken around the edges of the wing and tail surfaces with medium green. Stars, or "stars and bars" were applied to both sides of the fuselage and on the upper left and lower right wingtips. The USAAF number appeared on both sides of the fuselage in either yellow or black. Most aircraft were repainted silver during the post-WWII period. A variety of unit identification markings including nose art were applied in the field. Interior surfaces were generally finished in chromate green or a slightly darker "interior green".

Units using this aircraft

The USAAF, US Marines, and US Navy used this aircraft in the European, Pacific, and Far East theaters during World War II, and in Korea during the Korean War. The British RAF operated 100 Sentinels in India and Burma.

After WWII, the Philippine Army Air Corps used this aircraft from 1945 to 1947. This aircraft remained in service after 1 July 1947 when the PAAC was renamed the Philippine Air Force. The Italian Air Force operated approximately 100 L-5's from 1946 into the 1950's. Many other countries also received L-5's after the war, particularly India.

Postwar use and current status

After World War II, the L-5 was widely used by the Civil Air Patrol for search and rescue work. Today there are about 300 known examples left world wide and less than half are in flying condition. A restored, flying example of the OY-1 variant (VH-NOY) is located in Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia. This example was built for the USAAF but was finally supplied to the US Navy, serving until 1949. [Flypast Magazine, July 2007, Key Publishing Ltd] A group called the Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association [ [http://www.sentinelclub.org Sentinelclub] ] is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of this aircraft type.

Operators

;AUS
*Royal Australian Air Force - The RAAF operated one L-5 Sentinel, on loan from the USAAF. The aircraft was in service with the RAAF from 1944 to 1946.;ITA
*Italian Air Force;PHI
*Philippine Army Air Corps
*Philippine Air Force;UK
*Royal Air Force
** No. 27 Squadron RAF
** No. 117 Squadron RAF
** No. 194 Squadron RAF;USA
*Civil Air Patrol
*United States Army Air Force
*United States Air Force
*United States Marine Corps
*United States Navy

Specifications (L-5)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop

ref= March Field Air Museum web site [ cite web
url= http://www.marchfield.org/l5.htm
title= Stinson L-5 Sentinel
last=
first=
date=
accessmonthday= 8 December
accessyear= 2006
work=
publisher= March Field Air Museum ]

crew= 2 (pilot and observer)
capacity=
length main= 24 ft 1 in
length alt= 7.34m
span main= 34ft 0 in
span alt= 10.36m
height main= 7 ft 11 in
height alt= 2.41m
area main= 155 ft²
area alt= 14.40m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1550 lb
empty weight alt= 702kg
loaded weight main= 2020 lb
loaded weight alt= 916kg
useful load main= lb
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main= 2050 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 929kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Lycoming O-435-1
type of prop=
number of props= 1
power main= 185hp
power alt= kW
power original=
max cruise speed main= 116 knots
max cruise speed alt= 130mph,
normal cruise speed main= 94 knots
normal cruise speed alt= 105 mph
never exceed speed main= 145 knots
never exceed speed alt= 163 mph
stall speed main= 38 knots
stall speed alt= 42 mph, km/h
range main= 375 nm no reserve
max range alt= 420mi, 676km no reserve
ceiling main= 15,800 ft
ceiling alt= 4,815.60m
climb rate main= ft/min
climb rate alt= m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= W/kg
more performance=
armament= none
avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.sentinelclub.org - The Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association (SOPA) is an organization dedicated to restoring, flying, maintaining and increasing public awareness of the Stinson L-5. This group has approximately 140 members in 7 countries and includes the majority of L-5 owners worldwide]

* [http://www.als-cannonfield.com www.als-cannonfield.com - The Alamo Liaison Squadron is a group dedicated to restoring and flying liaison aircraft including a Stinson L-5]
* [http://www.lbirds.com www.lbirds.com - Build your own model of a Stinson L-5]

ee also

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