Aeronca L-3
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| L-3 Grasshopper | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 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 |
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.
Contents
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.[1][2]
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]
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]
Variants
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-3D — Aeronca 65TF Defender. 11 aircraft impressed.[4]
- L-3E — Aeronca 65TC Defender. 12 aircraft impressed.[4] Continental engine.
- L-3F — Aeronca 65CA Defender. 19 aircraft impressed.[4]
- L-3G — Aeronca 65L Super Chief with side by side seating. 4 aircraft impressed.[4] Lycoming engine.
- L-3H — Aeronca 65TL Defender. 1 aircraft impressed)[4] Lycoming engine.
- L-3J — Aeronca 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
- Brazilian Air Force L-3C
- Aviación Militar - received three L-3Bs.[6]
Museum displays
Aside from 17 L-3s (2 L-3, 8 L-3B, and 7 L-3C) that remain on the US civil registry as of July 2012,[7] a number have also found their way into museums
- National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio
- United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker near Ozark, Alabama
- Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas
- Port Townsend Aero Museum at Jefferson County International Airport near Port Townsend, Washington (flown regularly)
- Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- American Airpower Heritage Museum in Midland, Texas
- Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Elmira, New York
- Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington
- National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia
- Alamo Liaison Squadron in San Antonio, Texas
- Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas
Specifications (L-3C)
Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.[8]
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 ft² (15.6 m²)
- Empty weight: 835 lb (379 kg)
- Loaded weight: 1,260 lb (572 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-170-3 OR a Continental O-65-8 flat-4 engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 87 mph (76 kn, 139 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 79 mph (69 kn, 126 km/h)
- Stall speed: 46 mph (40 kn, 73 km/h)
- Range: 218 mi (189 nmi, 350 km)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
- Wing loading: 7.45 lb/ft² (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
- ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 31.
- ↑ Mondey 1996, p. 8.
- ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, pp. 32–33.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Adcock, 2005, p.21
- ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.584.
- ↑ Air International September 1973, p. 121.
- ↑ FAA Registry Search for Aeronca L-3 accessed 9 July 2009
- ↑ 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
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper. |
