SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019

The SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 is an Italian STOL liaison monoplane built by SIAI-Marchetti for the Italian Army, a turboprop-powered derivative of the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. To meet an Army requirement for a short take-off liaison aircraft, the company modified the Cessna 305A design with a new turboprop engine and a revised tail unit. The prototype first flew on 24 May 1969 with a 317 horsepower Allison 250-B15C turboprop, was evaluated against the Aermacchi AM.3 and won a production order for 80 aircraft. The variants are the prototype, the production SM.1019A and the SM.1019B with a more powerful Allison 250-B17B engine, which the Italian Army designated SM.1019E.I. Italy and Somalia operated the type.