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Aeronca L-3J 'Grasshopper'

Description
  Manufacturer:Aeronca
  Base model:L-3
  Designation:L-3
  Version:J
  Nickname:Grasshopper
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1942-1962
  Basic role:Liaison
  See Also:O-58

Specifications
Not Yet Available


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Gene Oshrin
 , NY
Ray , If your 1940 65-TC has a balanced rudder , it is most likely a 65-TAC Defender Trainer , 1941 or later , unless someone clipped the fin and added the balanced rudder . I suggest you carefully check your paper work which most likely is from a 65-TC , with the airframe probably the later 65-TAC Defender Trainer . Not unusual to find parts collections with mismatched paperwork . The 65-TC Tandem Trainer and the 65-TAC Defender Trainer are two completely different airframes , even though they are listed under the same Type Certificate.
Very few parts are interchangeable between the two . Gene
04/11/2010 @ 17:23 [ref: 26010]
 Ray Beeninga
 McAlester, OK
10-12-09 Less Cashmere and Ray Beeninga are starting the restoration of a 1940 Aeronca 65 TC basket case in McAlester OK. The aircraft was last flown in 1967. Less has all the logs and history starting in 1945 and most of the blueprints and drawings. This aircraft has the balanced rudder.
10/12/2009 @ 21:50 [ref: 25180]
 Gene Oshrin
 Bridgehampton, NY
"Aeronca Defender" response ; Ted , The Aeronca 65-TC was known as the " Tandem Trainer " ( Defender was a later model )and the one you had was probably owned during the war by the Defense Plant Corporation ( DPC )which purchased
many civilian owned aircraft during " the emergency " and assigned them for various uses since private flying was severely restricted . If you know the "N" number , I may be able to track it down . I'm surprised you were able to get the original log book with the aircraft , they are usually lost after the DPC sold off the surplus aircraft . Unfortunately , many aircraft projects get " scavenged " for parts through the years and it is difficult to find enough parts nowadays to put them back in the air , perhaps yours is one of the lucky ones ! Gene
04/06/2009 @ 19:40 [ref: 24084]
 Ted Harper
 Columbus OH, OH

Back around 1949 to 1951, I bought an Aeronca TC-65 Defender that had belonged to the defense department and was used to patrol around a defense plant, I believe in Iowa. This was according to the entries in the logbook. I later sold it to a fellow in Columbus OH ... at the time I lived in Marion OH. It was being rebuilt when I bought it (Less one wing) and sold it in the same condition. Often wondered what ever happened to it.
Does this ring any bells with anyone ?? If so, let me
hear from you. Use "Aeronca Defender" in subject line
or I probably will not see it.

Ted Harper
08/18/2008 @ 14:01 [ref: 22487]
 Gene Oshrin
 Bridgehampton , NY, NY
In response to Eric Brown's comments on the YO-58 . He is correct in regards the similarity of the YO-58 with the Tandem Trainer Model 65-TC . In fact the Aeronca factory designation for the YO-58 was Model 65-TCA . The Military YO-58 differed from the Tandem Trainer in that it had the balanced rudder of the Defender Trainer Model 65-TAC
( note the similarity of model numbers ), a fold out
" photographic window " , brake pedals moved to the front ,
a six volt wind driven generator and electrical system , enlarged skylight and rear windows , and RCA radio equipment .The YO-58 was soloed from the front seat and the rear control stick was generally stowed in the baggage compartment , the rear seat area being rather small with all the radio gear installed .
Our YO-58 , USAAF S/N 42-458 , is currently under restoration back to original configuration , including the radio equipment and instruments .
02/01/2006 @ 14:25 [ref: 12385]
 Eric Brown
 Belle Plaine, MN
A correction to my previous note of 2-29-04. The YO-58 aileron and aileron control system was the same as the pre-war T series. One of the original 4 YO-58's still exists and is being restored by Gene Oshrin in New York. See Gene's note under the L-3B. I did get a chance to see and photograph it as he was transporting it from Washington State to New York.
03/02/2004 @ 21:51 [ref: 6889]
 Eric Brown
 Belle Plaine, MN
Just a quick reference. The L-3J was the Army designation for the pre-war Aeronca model 65-TC, of which 1 was coomandeered into military service. The model 65-TC was the the base model for the YO-58, of which 4 were supplied to the Army in 1941 for evaluation. The YO-58 was nearly identical to the 65-TC, except fof the vertical fin and rudder and possibly the ailerons.
02/29/2004 @ 21:53 [ref: 6880]