Taylorcraft L-2
The Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper is an American observation and liaison aircraft built by Taylorcraft for the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.
Design and development
In 1941 the United States Army Air Forces ordered four Taylorcraft Ds with the designation YO-57. They were evaluated in the summer of 1941 during maneuvers in Louisiana and Texas where they were used for support purposes such as light transport and courier. General Innis P. Swift, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, coined the 'grasshopper' name after witnessing a bumpy landing. This led to a production order under the designation O-57 Grasshopper. In March 1942, the designation was changed to L-2 Grasshopper.In World War II, the Army Ground Forces began using the L-2 and other liaison aircraft in much the same manner as the observation balloon was used in France during World War I—spotting enemy troop and supply concentrations and directing artillery fire on them. It was also used for liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance that required airplanes able to land and take off from roads, open fields, and hastily prepared landing strips. The L-2 was primarily used in a training role within the United States and few saw overseas deployment.
Postwar, several L-2s were converted for civilian use and are operated by private pilot owners in the United States as the Model DCO-65. Several are still airworthy in 2021.
The L-2 series meet the standards for light-sport aircraft, thus can be flown by pilots holding the Sport Pilot Certificate.
Variants
;YO-57;O-57
;O-57A
;L-2
;L-2A
;L-2B
;L-2C
;L-2D
;L-2E
;L-2F
;L-2G
;L-2H
;L-2J
;L-2K
;L-2L
;L-2M
;TG-6
;LNT-1
;XLNT-2
;UC-95
Operators
- French Navy
- Haiti Air Corps
- Royal [Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force] - Postwar
- United States Army Air Forces
Airworthy Aircraft
- 43-25823 - L2M operated by the Commemorative Air Force.
- 43-26050 - L-2M operated by the Texas Air Museum in Slaton, Texas.File:L-2M Flying.jpg|thumb|L-2M flying with the Texas Air Museum in Slaton, Texas.
Aircraft on display
- 42-35872 – L-2A on static display at the United States [Army Aviation Museum|US Army Aviation Museum] in Fort Novosel, Alabama.
- 43-26110 – L-2M on static display at the Pima [Air & Space Museum] in Tucson, Arizona.
- 43-26433 – L-2M on static display at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, California.
- 43-26592 – L-2M on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
- 43-26104 – L-2M on static display at the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage, Alaska.