The Stinson L-5 is typical of the type of aircraft developed during WWII for duties such as liaison, artillery spotting, photo-reconnaissance and casualty evacuation. Rugged and dependable, the design is a true 'work horse', showing little to no concern for aesthetics and equipped with no unnecessary embellishments. It simply does what it says on the tin.

The L-5 was dubbed 'The Flying Jeep' and, along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use. Other types were used, of course, but they tended to be converted from existing commercial designs such as the Piper Cub.

Nearly all Perspex, the cockpit area affords excellent visibility in all directions and the large door windows  fold down to give uninterrupted viewing below. The design was created to be multi-functional and versions of the L-5 were produced to operate as air ambulances and carry small amounts of freight, munitions and other cargo. Its primary use was as a front-line liaison aircraft and artillery spotter.

The L-5's supreme ability to get into small, remote areas earned it great respect from the generals and troops alike, and L-5s dropped much needed medical supplies, munitions, food and other provisions to hard-pressed troops in remote areas. L-5s were also used to guide fighter-bombers to their targets by radio communication and flare drops.

Seeing service in WWII and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, to name but three, Sentinels have flown across deserts, operated from dense jungle airstrips and in freezing conditions of snow and ice. Wherever they were operating, pilots could depend on an aircraft that would always get them through, and any pilot that flew the L-5 came away with a new-found respect for this little 'can do' aeroplane.

Today, many Sentinels have found their way into private hands and provide an inexpensive entry into the world of warbird ownership. They make excellent glider tugs and as simple, rugged sports aircraft are a source of pure fun in today's high tech aviation world.

Aeroplane Heaven's Stinson L5 comes in seven liveries and has been built from factory engineering drawings and is highly detailed down to individual rivets and fabric effects.

The highly realistic pilot and observer are fully animated and other unique animations include aileron droop. A removable engine cover reveals a detailed Lycoming engine and the animated doors and drop-down Perspex windows reveal a fully detailed interior with all controls and fittings. Weather covers and pre-flights are included.

MODEL

• Built over the best plans available and from factory engineering drawings
• Highly detailed down to individual rivets and fabric effects
• Many unique animations including aileron droop
• Fully animated, highly realistic pilot and observer
• Removable engine cover reveals the detailed Lycoming engine
• Animated doors and drop-down Perspex windows
• Fully detailed interior visible with all controls and fittings
• Weather covers and pre-flights included

COCKPIT

• Highly realistic rendition of a WWII period Stinson cockpit
• Unique 'shake' on airframe at engine start and idle
• Unique needle tremble on engine start and low speed idle
• Realistic engine start procedure with prop stutter
• 'Cold and Dark start function using switch
• Specially animated aileron droop function in combination with flaps
• Wear and tear, dust and scratches throughout cockpit
• Working rear observer’s controls
• All wires and pulleys for control surfaces are animated
• Full period radio suite
• Animated doors and windows

TEXTURES

• Highly detailed High Definition texture set with weather and wear effects
• Pro quality Paint Kit available to download here (216MB)

FLIGHT DYNAMICS

• Authentic flight dynamics built using factory data and contemporary pilot records

LIVERIES

The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is supplied in the following seven liveries:

• 'Dangerous Liaison' - Serial No. 4268591
• US Coast Guard  OY-1 - Serial No. 98168
• US Marines VMO6 - Serial No. 03968 'WB'
• Swiss Air Force  A-96 - this machine was force-landed near Porrentruy by its pilot, 2^nd Lt Roy G. Abbot in late 1944 and was later repaired and used by the Swiss Air Force
• US Army machine - Serial No. 42 98989. Stinson L-5s played a key role in the Normandy D-Day landings in 1944 and later. Black and white Invasion stripes were painted on all Allied aircraft so that ground forces would not confuse them with enemy aircraft.
• KJ420 of the Malaya Command Flight, 1945 - the RAF South East Asia Command operated Stinsons during WWII.
• The United States Air Force re-designated all of its L-5 Sentinels in 1962. The new designation was U-19A. This example, serial No. 4298633 is from that period.

MANUAL

• An illustrated colour cockpit guide with flying notes is included.