Stinson L-13
The Stinson L-13 is 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. 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.
Variants
;XL-13;L-13A
;L-13B
;Acme Centaur 101
;Acme Centaur 102
;Caribbean Traders Husky I
;Caribbean Traders Husky II
;Caribbean Traders Husky III
;Servicair Loadmaster
Operators
- 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.
Surviving aircraft
Brazil
- 47-406 – L-13 on display at the TAM Museum in São Carlos, São Paulo.
United States
- 46-159 – L-13A in storage at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel near Daleville, Alabama.
- 47-275 – L-13A on display at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
- 47-287 – L-13A in storage at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.
- 47-316 – L-13A airworthy at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
- 47-355 – L-13 on static display at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 47-394 – L-13A on static display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.
- 47-412 – L-13B airworthy at the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington, Washington.