Liaison aircraft

A liaison aircraft is a small, mainly military, but usually unarmed aircraft , which is supposed to ensure the connection (hence the name) to other units or higher-level command organs and thus support the cooperation of armed forces. The applications are artillery observation , Kommandeurs- and courier transport, battlefield reconnaissance , medical transport , observation of troop movements, transporting light freight and similar tasks. Most liaison aircraft have been developed from small, light general aviation machines and are also used in civilian versions in general aviation. As a rule, liaison aircraft have the ability to take off and land on short makeshift runways ( STOL ). In the Second World War they were very common. In today's military aviation, liaison aircraft are of diminishing importance as their functions are better served by other technologies such as helicopters , drones and satellites .