Artifact Friday: Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper

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With the rapid innovations being made in flight during the early to mid-20th century, it’s no wonder that the US government was going to great lengths to constantly update and add to the arsenal of the US Army Air Corps, later the US Air Force.

One of the most important uses for aircraft is to fill the role of observation. Whether it is spotting an attacking force or mapping out coral reefs for an upcoming naval invasion, reconnaissance is key. To play off the well-known cliché, “knowing is half the battle.”

In 1941, the United States Army contacted the Aeronca Aircraft Company. With the rising tensions in the world, the military wanted to keep up with potential enemies. The Army ordered the construction of a lightweight observation and liaison aircraft. Thus, the Aeronca 65 TC Defender was provided. These were tested by the Army as light transports and couriers.

It was a job the Defender did well. However, the Army has never settled for “doing well” and issued a production order for the improved L-3 Grasshopper in March of 1942. In World War II, the Grasshopper was used to spot enemy troop movements and supply centers. The L-2’s weaponry was limited. In place of guns or cannons, the Grasshopper had a radio. With that radio, the pilot could and would call in artillery strikes. An arguably scarier payload than a typical fighter or interceptor aircraft.

As for specifications, the L-3 Grasshopper sports an empty weight of only 835 lbs. and is capable of carrying an additional 425 lbs. The Grasshopper could reach a top speed of 87 mph and a maximum range of 218 miles thanks to the Continental O-170 4-cylinder engine. This engine could produce a humble 65 hp. This is a remarkably small engine considering the Grasshopper was sharing the sky with aircraft like the P-51 Mustang with its V12 Merlin engine. Nonetheless, the weak engine and light weight of the L-2 Grasshopper allowed pilots to travel slow and steady to better observe the battlefield below them.