2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper USAF: Wikimedia Commons· Public domain
- 2. Aeronca L-3B replica AN2023160: Alain Rioux· GFDL 1.2
what is it?
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.
How to recognise it: 1 engine · 10.7 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 85 years ago, in 1941.
- Wingspan of 10.7 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1941
- number built
- 1,430
- role
- observation and liaison aircraft
- origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- makers
- Aeronca
- engines
- 1× Continental O-170-3 OR a Continental A-65-8
- crew
- 2
- length
- 6.7 m
- wingspan
- 10.7 m
- height
- 2.7 m
- max take-off weight
- 572 kg
- top speed
- 139 km/h
- cruise speed
- 126 km/h
- range
- 350 km
- ceiling
- 3,050 m
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
family
Sources: Wikidata Q381590, Wikipedia: Aeronca L-3 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.