Years In Service: 1941-Present
Initial Flight: 1941
The L-4A, originally designated the O-59, was the military version of the famous Piper J3 Cub. During World War II, the L-4 Grasshopper performed various functions worldwide such as artillery fire coordination, pilot training, glider pilot instruction, courier service, and front-line liaison. They also served well in medical evacuation, command and control, relaying communications, and wire laying. On the other hand, the L-4 due to those same factors were easy targets for enemy air and ground fire, but the loss rate among them was minor compared to the 3,500 deployed in the war.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 6′ 8″ Wingspan: 35′ 3″ Length: 22′ 5″ Crew: 2 Powerplant: Continental 0-170 Horsepower: 65 hp. No. of Engines: 1 Cruise speed: 75 mph Max Speed: 85 mph Ceiling: 9,300 ft.