The Nevington Piper L-4 Collection: |
Designated as the O-59 (1941), L-4 (after April 1942), and NE (U.S. Navy)the L-4 was one of several liason aircraft named "Grasshopper" by the USAAC. Approximately 1439 examples of the L-3 were manufactured before production ended in 1944. These aircraft served in a variety of liason roles; an unpowered version training glider pilots.
The Navy used a version of the Army L-4 that was designated the NE Grasshopper. Other Navy versions included the HE (re-designated the AE in 1943) hospital/ambulance version equipped to carry one stretcher in addition to the pilot.
YO-59 Four US Army Air Corps test and evaluation J3C-65.
O-59 Production version for the USAAC; 140 built later re-designated L-4.
O-59A Improved version, powered by a 65-hp (48-kW) Continental O-170-3 piston engine; 948 built, later re-designated L-4A.
L-4 Redesignated YO-59 and O-59.
L-4A Redesignated O-59A.
L-4B As per L-4A, but without radio equipment; 980 built.
L-4C Eight impressed J3L-65s, first two originally designated UC-83A.
L-4D Five impressed J3F-65s.
L-4H As per L-4B but with improved equipment and fixed-pitch propeller, 1801 built.
L-4J L-4H with controllable-pitch propeller, 1680 built.
UC-83A Two impressed J3L-65s, later re-designated L-4C.
TG-8 Three-seat training glider variant, 250 built.
LNP United States Navy designation for three TG-8s received.
NE-1 United States Navy designation for dual control version of J3C-65, 230 built.
NE-2 As per NE-1 with minor equipment changes, 20 built.
L4s could be trucked into combat zones
Used for non landing message pickup
Launched from Landing Ship Tank
Piper L-4 with Brodie Device to launch from Ships
Could land on Roads
Piper L-4 with Bazookas used in an Anti Tank capacity
The Navy used a version of the Army L-4 that was designated the NE Grasshopper. Other Navy versions included the HE (re-designated the AE in 1943) hospital/ambulance version equipped to carry one stretcher in addition to the pilot.
YO-59 Four US Army Air Corps test and evaluation J3C-65.
O-59 Production version for the USAAC; 140 built later re-designated L-4.
O-59A Improved version, powered by a 65-hp (48-kW) Continental O-170-3 piston engine; 948 built, later re-designated L-4A.
L-4 Redesignated YO-59 and O-59.
L-4A Redesignated O-59A.
L-4B As per L-4A, but without radio equipment; 980 built.
L-4C Eight impressed J3L-65s, first two originally designated UC-83A.
L-4D Five impressed J3F-65s.
L-4H As per L-4B but with improved equipment and fixed-pitch propeller, 1801 built.
L-4J L-4H with controllable-pitch propeller, 1680 built.
UC-83A Two impressed J3L-65s, later re-designated L-4C.
TG-8 Three-seat training glider variant, 250 built.
LNP United States Navy designation for three TG-8s received.
NE-1 United States Navy designation for dual control version of J3C-65, 230 built.
NE-2 As per NE-1 with minor equipment changes, 20 built.
L4s could be trucked into combat zones
Used for non landing message pickup
Launched from Landing Ship Tank
Piper L-4 with Brodie Device to launch from Ships
Could land on Roads
Piper L-4 with Bazookas used in an Anti Tank capacity