Aeronca L-3

The Aeronca L-3 series of liaison aircraft was used by the United States Army Air Corps in World War II. The L-3 was adapted from Aeronca's pre-war Tandem Trainer and Chief models.

L-3 Grasshopper
Aeronca L-3B belonging to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Role Observation and liaison aircraft
Manufacturer Aeronca Aircraft
First flight 1941
Primary user United States Army Air Forces
Developed from Aeronca 50 Chief

Design and development

In 1941 the United States Army Air Corps ordered four examples of the Aeronca 65 TC Defender, designated YO-58, for evaluation of its suitability as a short-range observation and liaison aircraft. It also placed similar orders with Piper and Taylorcraft. Service tests during the U.S. Army's field maneuvers of 1941 proved successful and resulted in substantial orders being placed. In April 1942, the O-58 was redesignated L-3.[1][2]

When the United States went to war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Forces adopted the L-3 for training liaison pilots, artillery observers and glider pilots. For a short period (1942-43) it was also used by Army Air Forces observation and liaison squadrons for operational training until more suitable aircraft such as the Stinson L-5 could be procured in quantity.

The main attractions of unarmed light airplanes such as the L-3 were low cost, simplicity of maintenance, a low training-hour requirement, and their ability to land and take off from suitable roads, meadows, and hastily-constructed landing strips. Liaison pilots candidates would typically undertake primary training on L-2s and L-3s before moving on to advanced operational training in the Piper L-4 or the Stinson L-5. Some L-3s were shipped to North Africa and subsequently given to the Free French Forces. At least one of those aircraft served with U.S. forces in Italy and at least one other served at Normandy, as reported by the Detroit Free Press on 25 June 1944, with a photograph indicating transport of medical supplies to the advancing front-line regiments.

The TG-5 was a three-seat training glider of 1942 based upon the O-58 design. This aircraft retained the O-58's rear fuselage, wings, and tail while adding a new front fuselage in place of the engine. In all, Aeronca built 250 TG-5 gliders for the Army. The Navy received three as the LNR-1.[3]

1942 Aeronca Grasshopper L-3B observation and liaison aircraft, formerly of the United States Army Air Forces, now privately owned as G-BRHP in England

Variants

Piper TG-8 glider trainer in flight, similar in appearance to the Aeronca TG-5.

O-58 designation replaced by L-3 designation in April 1942[4]

  • YO-58 – Four aircraft with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental YO-170-3 engine.[4]
  • O-58 / L-3 – production order of 50, most used for training in the US.[4]
  • O-58A / L-3A – Fuselage widened four inches and extended greenhouse canopy. 20 built.[4]
  • O-58B / L-3B – Modified canopy and additional radio equipment. 875 built.[4]
  • O-58C / L-3C – As O-58B/L-3B but with radio equipment removed for use as trainer. 490 built.[4]
  • L-3DAeronca 65TF Defender. 11 aircraft impressed.[4]
  • L-3EAeronca 65TC Defender. 12 aircraft impressed.[4] Continental engine.
  • L-3FAeronca 65CA Defender. 19 aircraft impressed.[4]
  • L-3GAeronca 65L Super Chief with side by side seating. 4 aircraft impressed.[4] Lycoming engine.
  • L-3HAeronca 65TL Defender. 1 aircraft impressed)[4] Lycoming engine.
  • L-3JAeronca 65TC Defender 1 additional aircraft impressed.[4] Continental engine.
  • JR-1 – Three L-3Cs supplied to the US Navy.[4]
  • TG-5 – 250 were built as training gliders for the USAAC.[4]
  • TG-33 – TG-5 converted for prone pilot.[4][5]
  • LNR – Three TG-5s supplied to the US Navy.[4]

Operators

 Brazil
 Cuba
 Chile

30 L-3B delivered to Chile via Lend-Lease program in 1943, all delivered to civil aero clubs. 4 Survivors (CC-KGA at La Ligua, CC-SHA at Chile's Aviation Museum. Two examples in the hands of restorers at Tobalaba airfield, Santiago, and Los Angeles.)

 Dominican Republic
 United States
 Venezuela

Surviving aircraft

L-3B Grasshopper at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum

Aside from 15 L-3s (2 L-3, 7 L-3B, and 6 L-3C) that remain on the US civil registry as of June 2016,[9] a number have also found their way into museums

  • 42-7796 - O-58A airworthy with Mark A. Henry of Dickinson, Texas[10]

Specifications (L-3C)

3-view line drawing of the Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
3-view line drawing of the Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.[46]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot, observer
  • Length: 21 ft 10 in (6.67 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.74 m)
  • Wing area: 169 sq ft (15.6 m2)
  • Empty weight: 835 lb (379 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,260 lb (572 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-170-3 OR a Continental A-65-8 flat-4 engine, 65 hp (48 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 87 mph (139 km/h, 76 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 79 mph (126 km/h, 69 kn)
  • Stall speed: 46 mph (73 km/h, 40 kn)
  • Range: 218 mi (350 km, 189 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
  • Rate of climb: 404 ft/min (2.05 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 7.45 lb/sq ft (36.1 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: .051 hp/lb (85 W/kg)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

  1. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 31.
  2. Mondey 1996, p. 8.
  3. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, pp. 32–33.
  4. Adcock, 2005, p.21
  5. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.584.
  6. Hagedorn 1993, p. 15.
  7. Hagedorn 1993, p. 97.
  8. Air International September 1973, p. 121.
  9. FAA Registry Search for Aeronca L-3 accessed 12 June 2016
  10. "Aircraft Inquiry". registry.faa.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  11. "FAA REGISTRY [N46513]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  12. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper, s/n 42-14773 USAAF, c/r N4209K". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  13. "FAA REGISTRY [N4209K]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  14. "Alamo Liaison Squadron Picture Gallery". The Alamo Liaison Squadron. Alamo Liaison Squadron. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  15. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca O-58B Grasshopper, s/n 42-36152 USAAF, c/n 058B-1782, c/r N52169". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  16. "FAA REGISTRY [N52169]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  17. "Aeronca L-3B "Grasshopper"". National Museum of the US Air Force. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  18. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper, s/n 42-36200 USAAF". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  19. "Aeronca L3 "Grasshopper"". Port Townsend Aero Museum. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  20. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca O-58B Grasshopper, s/n 43-1844 USAAF, c/r N48145". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  21. "FAA REGISTRY [N48145]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  22. "Aeronca L-3B Defender". Air Zoo. Air Zoo. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  23. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper, s/n 43-26772 USAAF, c/n 058B-9093, c/r N47139". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  24. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper, s/n 43-26819 USAAC, c/n 58B 9563, c/r CC-SHA". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  25. "Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper". The Museum Of Flight. The Museum Of Flight. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  26. "Aircraft". Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Archived from the original on 2016-10-29. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  27. "FAA REGISTRY [N47373]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  28. "Aeronca L3 (Grasshopper)". Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Archived from the original on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  29. "FAA REGISTRY [N33769]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  30. "Our Collection". Vintage Flying Museum. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  31. "Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper". Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. WAAAM. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  32. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca O-58B Grasshopper, c/r N47751". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  33. "FAA REGISTRY [N47751]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  34. "1941 L-3B Grasshopper". Air Group One. Air Group One CAF. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  35. "FAA REGISTRY [N36687]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  36. "CAF Ghost Squadron- The Liaison/Observation Aircraft". Commemorative Air Force Headquarters. Commemorative Air Force. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  37. "FAA REGISTRY [N27336]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  38. "L3 "Lil' Show Me"". Commemorative Air Force – Missouri Wing. Commemorative Air Force – Missouri Wing. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  39. "FAA REGISTRY [N36681]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  40. "FAA REGISTRY [N46248]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  41. "FAA REGISTRY [N48441]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  42. "Airframe Dossier – Aeronca50/65 / L-3 Champion / LNR / O-58 / TG-5 / TG-33, c/n 16645". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  43. "FAA REGISTRY [N46893]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation.
  44. "FAA REGISTRY [N46082]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  45. "FAA REGISTRY [N49705]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  46. Bridgeman, Leonard. "The Aeronca Grasshopper." Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. p. 203–204. ISBN 1 85170 493 0.

References

  • Adcock, Al (2005). US Liaison Air in Action – Aircraft Number 195. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron Signal Publications. pp. 21–24. ISBN 0-89747-487-2.
  • Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
  • Abel, Alan (2001). Aeronca's Golden Age. Wind Canyon Books. ISBN 1-891118-42-0.
  • Guillemette, Roger. "Aeronca L-3". US Centennial of Flight Commission. Archived from the original on 4 January 2006. Retrieved 2006-01-04.
  • Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.
  • Mondey, David (1996). The Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 185152-706-0.
  • Swanborough, F.G.; Peter M. Bowers (1963). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam.
  • "Venezuela Refurbishes Her Aerial Sombrero". Air International. 5 (3): 118–124, 150. September 1973.
  • "Aeronca L-3 Aircraft Finder". AeroWeb: The Aviation Enthusiast Corner. City University of New York. Archived from the original on 2006-01-18. Retrieved 2006-01-04.


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