Aeronca L-3

Main article: Aeronca Chief family
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



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.[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.

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]

Operators

 Brazil
 United States
 Venezuela

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

Specifications (L-3C)

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.[8]

General characteristics

Performance

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Adcock, 2005, p.21
  5. ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.584.
  6. ↑ Air International September 1973, p. 121.
  7. ↑ FAA Registry Search for Aeronca L-3 accessed 9 July 2009
  8. ↑ 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

External links

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