Engineering:Stinson L-13
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| L-13 Grasshopper | |
|---|---|
| |
| Note the windows in the roof giving excellent field of vision | |
| Role | Observation and Utility Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Stinson Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 1945 |
| Introduction | 1947 |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Army |
| Number built | 302 |
The Stinson L-13 (sometimes known as the Grasshopper, like other aircraft of its type) was a US military utility aircraft first flown in 1945.
Development
The aircraft design was developed at Stinson in response to a request from the United States Army Air Force for a light observation/liaison aircraft. At that time Stinson was a subsidiary of Consolidated-Vultee. The first two prototypes were constructed at the Stinson facility in Michigan.[1] In 1948 the Convair board were restructuring their various units, and negotiated to sell the Stinson subsidiary to Piper Aircraft. The L-13 project was specifically not included in the assets of the sale, however, and Convair continued its production in-house; ultimately building 300 units as the Convair L-13.
It was a conventional high-wing tailwheel monoplane used for observation, liaison, and air ambulance duties, which typically require low landing speeds and short landing rolls. It was fitted with a large "greenhouse" to enhance its observation role.
Following their military service and resale into the private market, some units were converted for civil bush flying use, fitting a radial engine by Acme Aircraft Company as the Centaur, while others underwent similar conversions by Caribbean Traders Inc, as the Husky.[2]
Variants
- XL-13
- Prototype aircraft, powered by 245 hp (183 kW) Franklin O-425-6 engine. Two built.[3]
- L-13A
- Production aircraft, powered by 250 hp (187 kW) O-425-9 engine. 300 built.[3]
- L-13B
- Conversion of L-13A for cold weather operation, capable of operating from wheels, skis or floats. 28 converted.[4][5]
- Acme Centaur 101
- Conversion of L-13 as six-seat bush aircraft. Powered by 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming R-680-E3.[2]
- Acme Centaur 102
- Similar to Acme Centaur 101, with a 300hp Jacobs R-755-A2 radial.[2]
- Caribbean Traders Husky I
- Civil conversion of L-13A. Retained O-425 engine.[2][6]
- Caribbean Traders Husky II
- Civil conversion of L-13A. Powered by 300 hp R-680-13 engine on modified engine mount capable of swinging out for easy maintenance.[2][6]
- Caribbean Traders Husky III
- Similar to Husky II, but powered by 450 hp (338 kW) Wright R-975-7 radial engine.[2][6]
- Servicair Loadmaster
- Reconstruction of L-13A with 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 radial engine and rearranged four-seat cabin.[7]
Operators
United States
- United States Air Force
- United States Army received 43 ex-Air Force L-13As following the outbreak of the Korean War, serving in the Continental United States to free up aircraft for active service overseas.[8]
Surviving aircraft
Brazil
- 47-406 – L-13 on display at the TAM Museum in São Carlos, São Paulo.[9]
United States
- 47-275 – L-13A on display at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas.[10][11]
- 47-287 – L-13A in storage at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.[12][13]
- 47-316 – L-13A airworthy at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.[14][15]
- 47-355 – L-13 on static display at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.[16][17]
- 47-394 – L-13A on static display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.[18][19]
- 47-412 – L-13B airworthy at the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington, Washington.[20][21]
Specifications (L-13A)
Data from General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors [22]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 31 ft 9 in (9.68 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 5 1⁄2 in (12.332 m)
- Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
- Wing area: 270 sq ft (25 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,070 lb (939 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,185 lb (1,445 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Franklin O-425-9 air-cooled flat-six engine, 250 hp (190 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
- Cruise speed: 92 mph (148 km/h, 80 kn)
- Range: 368 mi (592 km, 320 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 830 ft/min (4.2 m/s)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- ↑ Jason McDowell (29 November 2022). "History's Unique Aircraft: The large, slow-moving shadow of the Convair L-13". Flying/Daily Newsletter. https://www.flyingmag.com/the-large-slow-moving-shadow-of-the-convair-l-13/?utm_campaign=Newsletter%20-%20Weekend%20Roundup&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=236477059&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Ycw2WWLwX0oMjsbt6pY6FikYKiI0NSIh-Ls5mndnvX5EmnCb0eoFlOjmr_KH_UtYkP8XlE0jYrwNQeR4XecWIHYsRJfPTnKodrHUwsTWycB5LbOI&utm_content=236436885&utm_source=hs_email.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Wegg 1990, pp. 180-181.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wegg 1990, p.180.
- ↑ Harding 1990, p.92.
- ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.489.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Flight 9 September 1955, p. 466.
- ↑ Taylor 1961, p. 316.
- ↑ Harding 1990, pp. 91-92.
- ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13, s/n 47-0406 USAF, c/n 286, c/r N4236K". http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=56966.
- ↑ "Aircraft". http://www.arkansasairandmilitary.com/copy-of-collection.
- ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13A, s/n 47-0275 USAAF, c/r N275LG". http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=42115.
- ↑ "Aircraft on Loan (by Location)". April 2016. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Portals/7/documents/other/aircraft_on_loan_by_location.pdf.
- ↑ Baugher, Joe (30 June 2021). "1946-1948 USAAF-USAF Serial Numbers". http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html.
- ↑ "L-13". http://www.war-eagles-air-museum.com/exhibit.php?id=30.
- ↑ "FAA Registry [N316LG"]. U.S. Department of Transportation. http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=316LG.
- ↑ "Stinson L-13 Grasshopper". http://www.pearlharboraviationmuseum.org/aircraft/stinson-l-13-grasshopper.
- ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13, s/n 47-0355 USAF, c/r N2536B". http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=56522.
- ↑ "Stinson L-13A 'Grasshopper'". http://www.planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-L-13A.
- ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13A, s/n 47-0394 USAAF". http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=14528.
- ↑ "L-13 Grasshopper". http://www.heritageflight.org/aircraft/l-13-grasshopper.
- ↑ "FAA Registry [N7412"]. U.S. Department of Transportation. http://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=7412.
- ↑ Wegg 1990, p.182.
Bibliography
- "Convair Conversion." Flight, 9 September 1955, p. 466.
- "Plane With Folding Wings Can Be Towed Like A Glider" , March 1947, Popular Mechanics rare photos of L-13 folded for towing by jeep
- Davisson, Budd (August 1990). "Convair L-13: The Box It Came In". Air Progress. http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepL-13.html. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife, 1990. ISBN:1-85310-102-8.
- Swanborough, F.G. and Bowers, Peter M. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, 1963.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1961.
- Wegg, John. General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN:0-85177-833-X.
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