Aeronca L-3

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

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

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 the suitability of light aircraft for observation and liaison purposes. (It also placed similar orders with Piper and Taylorcraft Aircraft). Service tests during the US Army's annual maneuvers proved successful, and resulted in large orders being placed. In 1942, the O-58 was redesignated L-3.

When American forces went into combat after Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Force used the L-3 in much the same manner as observation balloons were used during World War I—spotting activities and directing artillery fire. It was also used for liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance which required airplanes to land and take off in short distances from unprepared landing strips. Liaison pilots would train on L-3s before moving on to front-line aircraft like 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 in the area at the time. At least one of the aircraft served with US forces in Italy.[citation needed]And minimally one other did service in 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.

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

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

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, a number have also found their way into museums

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

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.

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


This page was last updated at 2024-01-09 14:58 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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