Cessna XL-19B 52-1804 United States Army

These are 1/72 scale decals for Cessna XL-19B 52-1804, assigned to Continental Army Command (CONARC), United States Army — one of the most unusual and rarely modeled variants in the entire Bird Dog family.

The XL-19B was an experimental variant of the Bird Dog powered by a Boeing YT50 turbine engine — making it one of the earliest attempts to apply turbine power to a light liaison aircraft. The Army was keenly interested in the potential advantages of turbine propulsion for the liaison role: improved reliability, better high-altitude performance, and reduced maintenance compared to conventional piston engines. The XL-19B was evaluated under Continental Army Command oversight as part of this forward-looking research effort.

Only a handful of XL-19Bs were built, and the program ultimately did not lead to a production turbine-powered Bird Dog — but it represents a fascinating and little-known chapter in Army aviation's postwar push to explore new technologies. An exceptional subject for collectors interested in experimental aircraft and the cutting edge of 1950s Army aviation development. The model should be finished in Olive Drab.

Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.