Aeronca L

Aeronca L
An Aeronca LB
Role	Cabin monoplane
National origin	United States of America
Manufacturer	Aeronca Aircraft
Introduction	1935
Primary user	Private pilot owners
Number built	65
Unit cost	LA $2750, LB $2995, LC $3275 (1937)

The Aeronca L was a 1930s American cabin monoplane designed and built by Aeronca Aircraft.

Design and construction

Quite unlike other Aeronca designs, it was a low-wing monoplane that featured side-by-side seating in a completely enclosed cabin. The design reflected the greater attention being paid to aerodynamics in the period and included large wheel spats for the fixed undercarriage and a Townend ring for the engine.^[1] The aircraft was of mixed-construction with a welded steel fuselage and wings with spruce spars and ribs, all covered with fabric.

Operational History

The Model L was mainly flown by private pilot owners. The plane was not a big seller and a destructive flood at Lunken Airport took the energy out of the program and Aeronca went with high wing light aircraft. The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has an 1937 Aeronca LC in its collection.^[2] Aeronca LC NC17442 (cn 2056) is also on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.^[3]

Variants

LA

Fitted with a 70 hp (52 kW) LeBlond 5DE engine, 9 built

LB

Fitted with a 85 hp (63 kW) LeBlond 5DF engine, 29 built

LC

Fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Warner Scarab Jr engine, 15 built

LD

Fitted with a 90 hp (67 kW) Lambert R-266 5-cyl. radial engine.

Specifications (Model LC)

Data from EAA

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.9 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (10.9 m)
• Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Wing area: 150 ft² (13.9 m²) ()
• Empty weight: 1034 lb ()
• Max. takeoff weight: 1,852 lb (850 kg)
• Powerplant: × Warner Scarab Jr piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 123 mph (198 km/h)
• Range: 535 miles (860 km)

-->

Survivors

• Located at the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland, FL home of the Sun N Fun Fly-In
• Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum of hood river, OR. Has an airworthy Aeronica LC.

Aeronca LB N16271 is in final stages of restoration as of Jan.,2015

Aeronca LB N16262 is under restoration at Bedrock Aero LTD in Zanesville,Ohio as of Jan., 2015

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aeronca LB.

• Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 31
• Holcomb's Aerodrome