Stinson L-13

L-13 Grasshopper
Note the windows in the roof giving excellent field of vision
General information
Type	Observation and Utility Aircraft
Manufacturer	Stinson Aircraft Company
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Army
Number built	302
History
Introduction date	1947
First flight	1945

The Stinson L-13 (sometimes known as the Grasshopper, like other aircraft of its type) 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

Variants

XL-13

Prototype aircraft, powered by 245 hp (183 kW) Franklin O-425-6 engine. Two built.^[3]

L-13A

Production aircraft, powered by 250 hp (187 kW) O-425-9 engine. 300 built.^[3]

L-13B

Conversion of L-13A for cold weather operation, capable of operating from wheels, skis or floats. 28 converted.^[4][5]

Acme Centaur 101

Conversion of L-13 as six-seat bush aircraft. Powered by 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming R-680-E3.^[2]

Acme Centaur 102

Similar to Acme Centaur 101, with a 300hp Jacobs R-755-A2 radial.^[2]

L-13A converted to Caribbean Traders Husky III standard with a 450 h.p. Wright R-975 engine

Caribbean Traders Husky I

Civil conversion of L-13A. Retained O-425 engine.^[2][6]

Caribbean Traders Husky II

Civil conversion of L-13A. Powered by 300 hp R-680-13 engine on modified engine mount capable of swinging out for easy maintenance.^[2][6]

Caribbean Traders Husky III

Similar to Husky II, but powered by 450 hp (338 kW) Wright R-975-7 radial engine.^[2][6]

Servicair Loadmaster

Reconstruction of L-13A with 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 radial engine and rearranged four-seat cabin.^[7]

Operators

 United States

• 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.^[8]

Surviving aircraft

Brazil

• 47-406 – L-13 on display at the TAM Museum in São Carlos, São Paulo.^[9]

United States

• 46-159 – L-13A in storage at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel near Daleville, Alabama.^[10]
• 47-275 – L-13A on display at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas.^[11][12]
• 47-287 – L-13A in storage at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.^[13][14]
• 47-316 – L-13A airworthy at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.^[15][16]
• 47-355 – L-13 on static display at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[17][18]
• 47-394 – L-13A on static display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.^[19][20]
• 47-412 – L-13B airworthy at the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington, Washington.^[21][22]

Specifications (L-13A)

3-view line drawing of the Stinson L-13A

Data from General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors ^[23]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Length: 31 ft 9 in (9.68 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 5+1⁄2 in (12.332 m)
• Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
• Wing area: 270 sq ft (25 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,070 lb (939 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,185 lb (1,445 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Franklin O-425-9 air-cooled flat-six engine, 250 hp (190 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
• Cruise speed: 92 mph (148 km/h, 80 kn)
• Range: 368 mi (592 km, 320 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
• Rate of climb: 830 ft/min (4.2 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Cessna O-1 Bird Dog

References

Notes

1. Jason McDowell (29 November 2022). "History's Unique Aircraft: The large, slow-moving shadow of the Convair L-13". Flying/Daily Newsletter. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
2. Wegg 1990, pp. 180-181.
3. Wegg 1990, p.180.
4. Harding 1990, p.92.
5. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p.489.
6. Flight 9 September 1955, p. 466.
7. Taylor 1961, p. 316.
8. Harding 1990, pp. 91-92.
9. "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13, s/n 47-0406 USAF, c/n 286, c/r N4236K". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
10. "Our Collection". United States Army Aviation Museum. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
11. "Aircraft". Arkansas Air and Military Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
12. "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13A, s/n 47-0275 USAAF, c/r N275LG". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
13. "Aircraft on Loan (by Location)" (PDF). National Museum of the United States Air Force. April 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
14. Baugher, Joe (30 June 2021). "1946-1948 USAAF-USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher's Home Page. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
15. "L-13". War Eagles Air Museum. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
16. "FAA Registry [N316LG]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
17. "Stinson L-13 Grasshopper". Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
18. "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13, s/n 47-0355 USAF, c/r N2536B". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
19. "Stinson L-13A 'Grasshopper'". Planes of Fame Air Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
20. "Airframe Dossier - Convair L-13A, s/n 47-0394 USAAF". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
21. "L-13 Grasshopper". Heritage Flight Museum. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
22. "FAA Registry [N7412]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
23. Wegg 1990, p.182.

Bibliography

• "Convair Conversion." Flight, 9 September 1955, p. 466.
• "Plane With Folding Wings Can Be Towed Like A Glider" , March 1947, Popular Mechanics rare photos of L-13 folded for towing by jeep
• Davisson, Budd (August 1990). "Convair L-13: The Box It Came In". Air Progress. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
• Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
• Swanborough, F.G. and Bowers, Peter M. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, 1963.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1961.
• Wegg, John. General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London:Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-833-X.