A liaison aircraft (also called an army cooperation aircraft) is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery and similar duties. Able to operate from small, unimproved fields under primitive conditions, with STOL capabilities, most liaison aircraft were developed from, or were later used as general aviation aircraft. Both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters can perform liaison duties.
Use by country
Bulgaria
Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 Fazan
Germany
Nazi period: Fieseler Fi 156 Storch Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu
Japan
Imperial period: Kokusai Ki-76 (Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, 1942–1945) Tachikawa Ki-36 (Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, 1938–1945) Postwar period: LR-1 (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 1967–2016) LC-90 (Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, 1974–)
Poland
Lublin R-XIII
Portugal
Piper L-21 Super Cub (Portuguese Army, 1952–1957 and Portuguese Air Force, 1957–1976) Auster D.5/160 (Portuguese Air Force, 1961–1974) Dornier Do 27 (Portuguese Air Force, 1961–1979) Reims-Cessna FTB-337, (Portuguese Air Force, 1974–2007)
Soviet Union
Polikarpov Po-2 Kukuruznik ("Crop Duster")
Sweden
Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub as Flygplan 51, 1958–1974
Dornier Do 27 as Flygplan 53, 1962–1991
Scottish Aviation Bulldog as Flygplan 61C, 1972–1989
Switzerland
Pilatus PC-6
United Kingdom
de Havilland Dominie
Westland Lysander
Taylorcraft Auster AOP
United States
Vultee L-1 Vigilant
Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
Aeronca L-3 and L-16
Piper L-4 and L-14 Grasshopper
Stinson L-5 Sentinel
Interstate L-6
Stinson L-9
Stinson L-13
Boeing L-15 Scout
North American / Ryan L-17 Navion
Piper L-18 and L-21
Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog
Beechcraft L-23 Seminole
Helio L-24 and L-28 Courier
McDonnell L-25/XV-1
Aero Commander L-26
Cessna L-27 Blue Canoe
See also
Liaison pilot
References
External links
www.als-cannonfield.com – The Alamo Liaison Squadron is a group dedicated to restoring and flying liaison aircraft. Lbirds.com – Website with resources, information, and models of US WWII liaison aircraft Lbirds – Forum open to discussion about liaison aircraft