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Taylorcraft L-2

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L-2 Grasshopper
Taylorcraft L-2M of theCommemorative Air Force
General information
TypeObservation and liaison
National originUnited States
ManufacturerTaylorcraft
Primary userUnited States Army Air Forces
Number built1,984
History
Introduction date1941
Developed fromTaylorcraft D
Taylorcraft L-2M at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force
Interior of Taylorcraft L-2M N52347
Taylorcraft DCO-65

TheTaylorcraft L-2 Grasshopperis an American observation and liaison aircraft built byTaylorcraftfor theUnited States Army Air ForcesinWorld War II.

Design and development

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In 1941 theUnited States Army Air Forcesordered fourTaylorcraft Dswith the designationYO-57.They were evaluated in the summer of 1941 during maneuvers inLouisianaandTexaswhere they were used for support purposes such as light transport and courier. GeneralInnis P. Swift,commander of the1st Cavalry Division,coined the 'grasshopper' name after witnessing a bumpy landing.[1]This led to a production order under the designationO-57 Grasshopper.In March 1942, the designation was changed toL-2 Grasshopper.

In World War II, the Army Ground Forces began using the L-2 and other liaison aircraft in much the same manner as the observation balloon was used in France duringWorld War I—spotting enemy troop and supply concentrations and directing artillery fire on them. It was also used for liaison (communication) and transport duties and short-rangereconnaissancethat required airplanes able to land and take off from roads, open fields, and hastily prepared landing strips. The L-2 was primarily used in a training role within the United States and few saw overseas deployment.[2]

Postwar, several L-2s were converted for civilian use and are operated by private pilot owners in the United States as the Model DCO-65. Several are still airworthy in 2021.

The L-2 series meet the standards forlight-sport aircraft(other than the L-2M, which has a gross weight rating five pounds over the 1,320-lb limit), thus can be flown by pilots holding theSport Pilot Certificate.

Variants

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YO-57
Military version of the Taylorcraft Model D, four for evaluation with a 65hp YO-170-3 and tandem seating, later became O-57 then L-2.
O-57
Production version with minor changes and a 65hp O-170-3 engine and tandem seating, 20 built, re-designated L-2 in 1942.
O-57A
O-57 with modified cabin and military radios and an observers seat that could face backwards, 336 built, re-designated L-2A
L-2
O-57 re-designated in 1942, a further 50 built.
L-2A
O-57A re-designated in 1942, a further 140 built.
L-2B
L-2A with modifications for artillery spotting with a 65hp Continental A65-8 engine and tandem seating, 490 built.
L-2C
13 Taylorcraft Model DC65 with tandem seating, impressed into Army service.
L-2D
One Taylorcraft Model DL65 with tandem seating, impressed into Army service.
L-2E
Two impressed Taylorcaft Model DF65s with a 65hp Franklin 4AC-176-B2 and tandem seating into Army service.
L-2F
Seven impressed Taylorcraft Model BL65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine, one originally designated UC-95.
L-2G
Two impressed Taylorcraft Model BFs with side-by-side seating and a 50hp Franklin 4AC-150-50 engine.
L-2H
Nine impressed Taylorcraft Model BC12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp Continental A65-7 engine.
L-2J
Five impressed Taylorcraft Model BL12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine.
L-2K
Four impressed Taylorcraft Model BF12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp Franklin 4AC-176-B2 engine.
L-2L
Single impressed Taylorcraft Model BF60 with side-by-side seating and a 60hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine.
L-2M
L-2A with close-fitting engine cowls and wing spoilers and tandem seating, 900 built.
TG-6
Model ST.100 three-seat training glider variant with enlarged fin area, wing spoilers and a simpler landing gear, 250 built.
LNT-1
U.S. Navy version of TG-6
XLNT-2
Modified LNT-1 forGlombtrials.[3]
UC-95
One impressed Taylorcraft Model BL65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine, re-designated L-2F.

Operators

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France
Haiti
Netherlands
United States

Airworthy Aircraft

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Aircraft on display

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L-2 on display at the Fargo Air Museum, in Fargo, North Dakota.

Specifications (Taylorcraft L-2A)

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3-view line drawing of the Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
3-view line drawing of the Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper

Data fromPilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1, 1944 & The Taylorcraft Story, 1992

General characteristics

  • Crew:Two, pilot and observer
  • Capacity:425 lb (193 kg)
  • Length:22 ft 9 in (6.9 m)[8]
  • Wingspan:35 ft 5 in (10.8 m)[8]
  • Height:6 ft 8 in (2.0 m)[8]
  • Wing area:181 sq ft (16.8 m2)[8]
  • Airfoil:NACA 23012[9]
  • Empty weight:875 lb (397 kg)[8]
  • Gross weight:1,300 lb (590 kg)[10]
  • Max takeoff weight:1,300 lb (590 kg)[10]
  • Powerplant:1 ×Continental O-170-3 4-cylinder air-cooled engine, 65 hp (48 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed:92 mph (148 km/h, 80 kn)[11]
  • Cruise speed:83 mph (134 km/h, 72 kn) at 2,150 rpm[11]
  • Stall speed:43 mph (69 km/h, 37 kn) power on[12]
  • Never exceed speed:140 mph (225 km/h, 120 kn)[13]
  • Range:303 mi (488 km, 263 nmi) at 2,000 rpm
  • Service ceiling:12,000 ft (3,658 m)[14]
  • Rate of climb:395 ft/min (2.01 m/s) L-2A[15]
  • Wing loading:7.18 lb/sq ft (35.1 kg/m2)

Avionics

  • RCA AVR-20A radio[16]

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Citations

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  1. ^*Graff, Cory (2003).Shot to Hell: The Stories and Photos of Ravaged WWII Warbirds.St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Co.ISBN0-7603-1609-0.
  2. ^Raines, Edgar F. (2000) Eyes of Artillery:The Origins of Modern U.S. Army Aviation in World War II; Government Printing Office;ISBN9780160503436
  3. ^Ordway and Wakeford 1960, p. 180.
  4. ^Moulin, Jacques. "Les Taylorcraft L- 2 de la Marine française".Les avions de la guerre d'Algérie.2013. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. ^"Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper".Pima Air & Space Museum.Retrieved3 November2020.
  6. ^"Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper".Aerospace Museum of California.Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2016.Retrieved3 November2020.
  7. ^"Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper".National Museum of the United States Air Force.17 April 2015.Retrieved3 November2020.
  8. ^abcdeLove 2001, p. 20.
  9. ^The Taylorcraft Story1992, p. 20.
  10. ^abPilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, p. 5.
  11. ^abPilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, p. 29.
  12. ^Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, p. 11.
  13. ^Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, p. 12.
  14. ^The Taylorcraft Story1992, p. 151.
  15. ^Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, pp. 26-28.
  16. ^Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-11944, pp. 18-20.

Bibliography

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  • Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1.Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: US Army Air Forces. 1944.
  • Peek, Chet (1992).The Taylorcraft Story.Norman, OK: Three Peaks Publishing.
  • Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960).International Missile and Spacecraft Guide.New York: McGraw-Hill.ASINB000MAEGVC.
  • Love, Terry M. (2001).L-Birds: American Combat Liaison Aircraft of World War II.New Brighton, MN: Flying Books International.
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