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Stinson L-5 Sentinel liaison/observation plane

Unlike most of the aircraft to receive the “L” designation during the war, the L5 was not simply a light civilian plane repainted and fitted with a military radio. The L-5 was based on the Stinson 105 Voyager, a three-seat civilian plane of rather low performance. The frame was strengthened and a more powerful engine was installed among other changes for the military version. Some 3,900 L-5's were built, making it the most numerous of the “L” types. Originally designated O-54 (“O” for “Observation”), in 1942 it was redesignated L-5 (“L” for “Liaison”). Apart from being used for artillery spotting and general liaison duty, it also served as an air ambulance (some versions capable of carrying a patient on a stretcher). It served into the Korean War and 100 were used by the British as the Sentinel I and Sentinel II. Several other countries received surplus after the war.

The L-5 has a crew of two, seated in tandem, the pilot and observer. The plane burns 6.2 gallons of regular gasoline per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Light Fighter chassis +3, Recon Plane Wings with STOL option +2, three fixed wheels +0.
Powertrain: 138-kW aerial gas engine with 138-kW prop and 36-gallon standard tanks [Body]
Occupancy: 2 CS.  Cargo: 4 Body, 2.2 Wings

Armor

Body/Wings: 2/2C

Equipment
Body: Medium range radio transmitter and receiver, navigation instruments

Statistics

HT: 10.
HP: 50 [body], 35 [each wing], 5 [each wheel]

Stall speed 42.

Design Notes
Design aSpeed is 143 mph and stall speed 40 mph; the historical speeds, as well as actual wing area (155 sf), has been used. Armor uses the cloth option. The tail and wings were primarily constructed of wood rather than metal tubing.

Variants
The original 105 Voyager (1939) used a 66-kW engine good for 105 mph. It carried two passengers and weighed .75 tons. Some 277 were built. Some 775 of the very similar Model 10, 10A and 10B were built, generally differing only in engines used.

The L-5B was the first equipped to carry a stretcher, with a folding seat for a normal passenger if a stretcher was not carried. It was also used to carry light cargo (often taking cargo to the front lines and returning with an injured soldier). It was possible to fit the plane with twin floats. 729 built.

The 200 L-4C were equipped with recon cameras.

Those serving with the Navy and Marines were known as the OY-1 (306 planes) and OY-2 (122 planes).