Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper - Seattle, WA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Located at the Museum of Flight are a large number of static aircraft on display. One of them is a Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper. The Museum of Flight website contains a page devoted to this aircraft and it reads:

"L" is for Liaison
The Aeronca L-3B is an example of the light planes used by the U.S. Army during World War II. Built by Piper, Taylorcraft, and Aeronca, the little observation and liaison planes, nicknamed Grasshoppers, were adapted from existing commercial airplane designs made before the war. Using established designs and proven airframes saved time and money and brought the Grasshoppers into service quickly. The Piper J-3 Cub became the L-4, Taylorcraft's Model D was the L-2, and Aeronca's Model 65TC Defender flew as the L-3. Aeronca's L-3 was a military version of the Model 65TC Defender and is equipped with a Continental A65-8 65 horsepower engine. Modified with a wider fuselage, bigger windows, and military equipment, the L-3B was used as a patrol plane, VIP transport, and artillery spotter and director.

This L-3B is one of about 8,900 Aeronca L-3s, Taylorcraft L-2s, and Piper L-4s made during World War II. It was purchased by Aeronca, Inc. in 1985, and was restored in its wartime colors for The Museum of Flight.

"Send Grasshopper"
The Army's liaison plane's famous name is said to have come about in the summer of 1942, when Piper pilot Henry Wann was directed to fly a message from Fort Bliss, Texas, to the cavalry Major General, Innis Swift, at his field headquarters. The general saw Wann's rough landing in a field and commented, "You looked like a damned grasshopper when you landed in those boondocks and bounced around!" Later, when Swift wanted Wann and his little plane to return, he sent a message to Fort Bliss: "Send Grasshopper." Bliss's personnel were baffled until Wann told them the story. Soon, all of the Army's liaison aircraft were called "Grasshoppers."

A nearby placard also highlights this Grasshopper in more detail and reads:

Adapt and Build
Army liaison planes weren't built from scratch. They were adapted and modified versions of civilian lightplanes. Using established designs and proven airframes saved time and money and brought Grasshoppers into service fast. Piper's Cub became the L-4, Taylorcrafts's Model D was the L-2, and Aeronca's Model 65TC Defender flew as the L-3. The Army's idea of using proven designs didn't stop there--they asked the companies to make glider versions of the planes for training. Aeronca's three seat TG-5 glider had L-3 wings, tails sections and rear fuselage with a redesigned glider nose.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper Tail Number: (S/N): 9223; Registration no. N47427 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Museum of Flight inside / outside: inside Other Information:: Not listed Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/28/2022 r.e.s.t.seekers visited it 10/01/2018 Ulven7470 visited it 10/31/2017 petendot visited it

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