The name Aeronca Aircraft Corporation had been adopted in 1941 by the company established in late 1928 as the Aeronautical Corporation of America. One of its most successful products was the Model 65 high-wing monoplane, developed to meet commercial requirements for a reliable dual-control tandem two-seat trainer. The four of these aircraft supplied initially to the USAAC became designated YO-58, and these were followed by 50 0-58, 20 0-58A and 335 0-58B aircraft, serving with the USAAF (established on 20 June 1941). In the following year the 0 (Observation) designation was changed to L (Liaison), and the 0-58, 0-58A and 0-58B designations became respectively L- 3, L-3A and L-3B. An additional 540 aircraft were delivered as L-3Bs and 490 L-3Cs were manufactured before production ended in 1944. The designations L- 3D/-3E/-3F/-3G/-3H/-3J were applied to civil Model 65s with varying powerplant installations, which were impressed into military service when the United States became involved in World War II.

Most L-3s were generally similar, with small changes in equipment representing the variation from one to another. All shared the welded steel-tube fuselage/tail unit with fabric covering, and wings with spruce spars, light alloy ribs and metal frame ailerons, all fabric-covered. Landing gear was of the non-retractable tailwheel type with mechanical wheel brakes. Faired in side Vees hinged to lower fuselage longerons and half-axles hinged to Vee cabane beneath fuselage. Oleo-spring shock-absorber struts incorporated in side Vees. Full swivelling tailwheel.

With the requirement for a trainer suitable for glider pilots, Aeronca developed an unpowered version of the Model 65. This retained the wings, tail unit and aft fuselage of the L-3, but introduced a new front fuselage providing a third seat forward for an instructor, the original tandem seats being used by two pupils. All three occupants had similar flying controls and instruments. A total of 250 of these training gliders was supplied to the USAAF under the designation TG-5, and three supplied to the US Navy for evaluation were identified as LNR. Production of Aeronca liaison aircraft continued after the war, with planes supplied to the USAF under the designation L-16.

The Aeronca Super Chief Models 65CA and 65 LB

During the war Aeronca continued to develop and produce dual control models for the civil market. The US Army acquired second-hand a number of Aeronca two-seat cabin monoplanes of various models for pre-glider training purposes. One of these models was the Aeronca Model 65 'Super Chief' of which the US Army impressed two types into service. The L-3F with a Continental A65-8 engine and the L3-G with a Lycoming O-145-B1 engine. They differed from the standard Model 65 aircraft by the following:

The Aeronca Defender

Another dual control aircraft Aeronca continued to develop and produce for the civil market was the Model 65 'Defender'. The US Army also acquired second-hand a number of these Aeronca two-seat cabin monoplanes of various types for pre-glider training purposes. Of the Defender type, the US Army impressed four configurations into service. The L-3D with a Franklin 4AC-176-B2 engine, the L3-E with a Continental A65-8 engine, the L-3H with a Lycoming O-145-B1 engine and the L3-J with a Continental A65-7 engine. They differed from the standard Model 65 aircraft by the following:

Variants

Aeronca YO-58/O-58 - This was a civil Model 65 of which the US Army Air Corps ordered four aircraft for flight testing under the designation YO-58, and soon ordered another 50 aircraft for field testing under combat conditions under the designation O-58. The 'O' standing for Observation. This was later changed to 'L' for Liaison in early 1942 after the US Army Air Corps became the US Army Air Force 20 June 1941.  

Aeronca L-3A/3B/3C - These were the main production models for military use. They were externally very similar and only differed in equipment fit. Production was L-3A (20), L-3B (335 and a second batch of 540), L-3C (490). The name 'Grasshopper' was a generic name applied to all aircraft of this type. 

Aeronca L-3D - This was a civil Model 65TAF Defender with a 65 hp (48 kW) Franklin 4AC-176-B2 horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine impressed into military service. Fuel capacity was 12 US gallons (45.42 litres) as in the L-3 series, but an auxiliary 1 US gallon (3.785 litres) was carried in front of the instrument panel.  

Aeronca L-3E - This was a civil Model 65TAC Defender with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A65-8 (O-170 US Army Designation) horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine impressed into military service. 

Aeronca L-3F - This was a civil Model 65CA Super Chief with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A65-8 (O-170) horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine impressed into military service. Fuel capacity was 17 US gallons (64.34 litres) in a main fuel tank with provision for an 8 US gallon (30.28 litres) auxiliary fuel tank installed aft of the baggage compartment as special equipment. Fuel capacity was standard for all 'Super Chief' aircraft. 

Aeronca L-3G - This was a civil Model 65LB Super Chief with a 65 hp (48 kW) Lycoming O-145-B1 flat-four air-cooled 4-cylinder engine impressed into military service. 

Aeronca L-3H - This was a civil Model 65TL Defender with a 65 hp (48 kW) Lycoming O-145-B1 flat-four air-cooled 4-cylinder engine impressed into military service. 

Aeronca L-3J - This was a civil Model 65TC Defender with a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A65-8 (O-170 US Army Designation) horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder air-cooled engine impressed into military service. 

Aeronca TG-5 - An unpowered Model 65 for use as a training glider for the USAAF with a modified fuselage/cockpit to incorporate a third seat for an instructor. All three had similar flight controls and instruments (250 aircraft). 

Aeronca LNR - An unpowered Model 65 for evaluation purposes as a training glider for the US Navy with a modified fuselage/cockpit to incorporate a third seat for an instructor. All three had similar flight controls and instruments (3 aircraft). 

Aeronca L-16 - Post-war production of the Aeronca L-3 to the USAF. 

Specifications (Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper)

Type: Two Seat Light Liaison & Observation

Accommodation/Crew: Pilot and an Observer sitting in tandem in an enclosed cockpit with dual controls (usually flown from the front seat). Observer's seat face forward or aft, and when in the latter position a folding table may be brought into use for maps etc. Radio equipment was standard.

Design: Chief Engineer W. D. Hall of The Aeronca Aircraft Corporation

Manufacturer: The Aeronca Aircraft Corporation at the Middleton Municipal Airport in Ohio.

Powerplant: One 65 hp (48 kW) Continental (A-65) O-170-3 4-cylinder horizontally opposed air-cooled piston engine.

Performance: Maximum speed 87 mph (139 km/h); cruising speed 79 mph (126.4 km/h); service ceiling 10,000 ft (3050 m); initial rate of climb 404 ft (123 m) per minute; stalling speed 46 mph (73.6 km/h)

Fuel: 12 US gallons (45.42 liters) in a cabin roof mounted fuel tank conforming to the curvature of the wings.

Range: 218 miles (350 km) with internal fuel.

Weight: Empty 835 lbs (379 kg) with a normal take-off weight of 1,260 lbs (572 kg). Wing loading 7.45 lbs/sq ft (36.1 kg/sq m); power loading 19.39 lbs/hp (8.8 kg/hp).

Dimensions: Span 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m); length 21 ft 10 in (6.67 m); height 9 ft 1 in (2.74 m); wing area (including ailerons) 169.0 sq ft (15.6 sq m).

Armament: None.

Variants: Aeronca Model 65 (YO-58), O-58 (L-3), O-58A (L-3A), O-58B (L-3B), L-3C, L-3CD, L-3E, L-3F, L-3G, L-3H, L-3J, TG-5, LNR, L-16.

Equipment/Avionics: Standard communication equipment.

Wings/Fuselage/Tail Unit: High-wing rigidly braced monoplane. NACA 4412 wing section. Wings in two sections attached to top longerons of fuselage and braced to lower longerons by Vee struts. Structure consist. of two solid spruce spars, aluminium-alloy ribs, steel-tube compression strut. and single-wire drag bracing. the whole being covered with fabric. Ailerons have metal frame with fabric covering. The fuselage was of welded steel-tube structure covered with fabric over spruce fairing stringers. Tail unit was a braced monoplane type. Welded steel-tube frame-work covered with fabric. Fin built integral with fuselage. Trimming tab in starboard elevator adjustable from cockpit.

History: First delivery (YO-58) early 1941; end production (all military types) 1944.