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{{Short description|1941 liaison aircraft family}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = L-2 Grasshopper
 |image = File:Taylorcraft L-2A Grasshopper ‘325823’ (N53768) (50885523216).jpg
 |caption = Taylorcraft L-2M of the [[Commemorative Air Force]] 
 |type = Observation and liaison
 |national_origin= United States
 |manufacturer = [[Taylorcraft Aircraft|Taylorcraft]]
 |designer = <!--only appropriate for individuals, not for project leaders or a company or corporation-->
 |first_flight = 
 |introduction = 1941
 |retired = 
 |status = 
 |primary_user = [[United States Army Air Forces]]
 |more_users = 
 |number_built = 1,984
 |developed_from = [[Taylorcraft D]]
 |variants = 
}}
[[File:Taylorcraft L-2M.jpg|thumb|right|Taylorcraft L-2M at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]]]]
[[File:L2 interior.JPG|thumb|right|Interior of Taylorcraft L-2M N52347]]
[[File:Taylorcraft DCO-65 (N47481).jpg|thumb|Taylorcraft DCO-65]]

The '''Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper''' is an American observation and liaison aircraft built by [[Taylorcraft Aircraft|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 D]]s 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 (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]], coined the 'grasshopper' name after witnessing a bumpy landing.<ref>*{{cite book | last = Graff | first = Cory | title = Shot to Hell: The Stories and Photos of Ravaged WWII Warbirds | publisher = MBI Publishing Co. | date = 2003
 | location = St. Paul, MN | isbn = 0-7603-1609-0}}</ref> 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 (communication) 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.<ref>Raines, Edgar F. (2000) Eyes of Artillery:The Origins of Modern U.S. Army Aviation in World War II; Government Printing Office; {{ISBN|9780160503436}}</ref>

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]] (other than the L-2M, which has a gross weight rating five pounds over the 1,320-lb limit), thus can be flown by pilots holding the [[Sport Pilot Certificate]].

==Variants==
;YO-57
:Military version of the Taylorcraft Model D, four for evaluation with a 65hp YO-170-3 and tandem seating, later became O-57 then L-2.
;O-57
:Production version with minor changes and a 65hp O-170-3 engine and tandem seating, 20 built, re-designated L-2 in 1942.
;O-57A
:O-57 with modified cabin and military radios and an observers seat that could face backwards, 336 built, re-designated L-2A
;L-2
:O-57 re-designated in 1942, a further 50 built.
;L-2A
:O-57A re-designated in 1942, a further 140 built.
;L-2B
:L-2A with modifications for artillery spotting with a 65hp Continental A65-8 engine and tandem seating, 490 built.
;L-2C
:13 Taylorcraft Model DC65 with tandem seating, impressed into Army service.
;L-2D
:One Taylorcraft Model DL65 with tandem seating, impressed into Army service.
;L-2E
:Two impressed Taylorcaft Model DF65s with a 65hp Franklin 4AC-176-B2 and tandem seating into Army service.
;L-2F
:Seven impressed Taylorcraft Model BL65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine, one originally designated UC-95.
;L-2G
:Two impressed Taylorcraft Model BFs with side-by-side seating and a 50hp Franklin 4AC-150-50 engine.
;L-2H
:Nine impressed Taylorcraft Model BC12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp Continental A65-7 engine.
;L-2J
:Five impressed Taylorcraft Model BL12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine.
;L-2K
:Four impressed Taylorcraft Model BF12-65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp Franklin 4AC-176-B2 engine.
;L-2L
:Single impressed Taylorcraft Model BF60 with side-by-side seating and a 60hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine.
;L-2M
:L-2A with close-fitting engine cowls and wing spoilers and tandem seating, 900 built.
;TG-6
:Model ST.100 three-seat training glider variant with enlarged fin area, wing spoilers and a simpler landing gear, 250 built.
;LNT-1
:U.S. Navy version of TG-6
;XLNT-2
:Modified LNT-1 for [[Glomb]] trials.<ref>Ordway and Wakeford 1960, p. 180.</ref>
;UC-95
:One impressed Taylorcraft Model BL65s with side-by-side seating and a 65hp O-145-B1 engine, re-designated L-2F.

==Operators==
;{{flag|France}}
*[[French Navy]]<ref>Moulin, Jacques. "[http://avions-de-la-guerre-d-algerie.over-blog.com/article-132-les-taylorcraft-l-2-118367888.html Les Taylorcraft L- 2 de la Marine française]". ''Les avions de la guerre d'Algérie''. 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2020.</ref>{{rs|date=October 2020}}
;{{flag|Haiti}}
*[[Haiti Air Corps]]

;{{flag|Netherlands}}
*[[Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force]] - Postwar

;{{USA}}
*[[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|Fort Novosel, Alabama]]. 
* 43-26110 – L-2M on static display at the [[Pima Air & Space Museum]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper |url=http://pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/taylorcraft-l-2m-grasshopper |website=Pima Air & Space Museum |access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>
* 43-26433 – L-2M on static display at the [[Aerospace Museum of California]] in [[McClellan, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper |url=http://www.aerospaceca.org/taylorcraft-l-2m-grasshopper |website=Aerospace Museum of California |access-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417204818/http://www.aerospaceca.org/taylorcraft-l-2m-grasshopper |archive-date=17 April 2016}}</ref>
* 43-26592 – L-2M on static display at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylorcraft L-2M Grasshopper |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195874/taylorcraft-l-2m-grasshopper/ |website=National Museum of the United States Air Force |access-date=3 November 2020 |date=17 April 2015}}</ref>
* 43-26104 – L-2M on static display at the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage, Alaska.
L-2 on display at the Fargo Air Museum, in Fargo, North Dakota.

==Specifications (Taylorcraft L-2A)==
[[File:Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper]]

{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|ref=Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1, 1944 & The Taylorcraft Story, 1992
|crew= Two, pilot and observer
|capacity = 425 lb (193 kg)
|length ft= 22
|length in= 9
|length m=6.9 
|length note=<ref name="lbirds p20">Love 2001, p. 20.</ref>
|span ft= 35
|span in= 5
|span m=10.8 
|span note=<ref name="lbirds p20"/>
|height ft= 6
|height in= 8
|height m=2 
|height note=<ref name="lbirds p20"/>
|wing area sqft=181 
|wing area sqm=16.8 
|wing area note=<ref name="lbirds p20"/>
|airfoil= NACA 23012<ref>''The Taylorcraft Story'' 1992, p. 20.</ref>
|empty weight lb= 875  
|empty weight kg= 397 
|empty weight note=<ref name="lbirds p20"/>
|gross weight lb= 1,300 
|gross weight kg= 590 
|gross weight note= <ref name="Pilots Flight Operating Instructions 1944, p. 5">''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, p. 5.</ref>
|max takeoff weight lb=1,300 
|max takeoff weight kg=590 
|max takeoff weight note=<ref name="Pilots Flight Operating Instructions 1944, p. 5"/>
|eng1 name=[[Continental O-170]]-3
|eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled engine
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 hp= 65 
|eng1 kw= 48 
|max speed mph= 92  
|max speed kmh= 148 
|max speed note=<ref name="Pilots Flight Operating Instructions 1944, p. 29">''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, p. 29.</ref>
|cruise speed mph= 83  
|cruise speed kmh= 134  
|cruise speed note=at 2,150 rpm<ref name="Pilots Flight Operating Instructions 1944, p. 29"/>
|stall speed mph= 43 
|stall speed kmh= 69 
|stall speed note=power on<ref>''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, p. 11.</ref>
|never exceed speed mph= 140  
|never exceed speed kmh= 225 
|never exceed speed note=<ref>''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, p. 12.</ref>
|range miles= 303  
|range km= 488  
|range note=at 2,000 rpm
|ceiling ft= 12,000 
|ceiling m= 3,658 
|ceiling note=<ref>''The Taylorcraft Story'' 1992, p. 151.</ref>
|climb rate ftmin= 395 
|climb rate note=L-2A<ref>''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, pp. 26-28.</ref>
|wing loading lb/sqft=7.18
|avionics= *RCA AVR-20A radio<ref>''Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1'' 1944, pp. 18-20.</ref> 
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
*[[Taylorcraft Auster]]
*[[Piper J-3 Cub]] and its L-4 military version
|lists=
*[[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1 |year=1944 |publisher=US Army Air Forces |location=Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio}}
* {{cite book |last=Peek|first=Chet|title=The Taylorcraft Story |year=1992 |publisher=Three Peaks Publishing |location=Norman, OK}}
*{{cite book |last1=Ordway |first1=Frederick Ira |author2=Ronald C. Wakeford |title=International Missile and Spacecraft Guide |year=1960 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |asin=B000MAEGVC }}
* {{cite book |last=Love|first=Terry M.|title=L-Birds: American Combat Liaison Aircraft of World War II |year=2001 |publisher=Flying Books International |location=New Brighton, MN}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051127062405/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/air_power/ap4.htm L-2 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force]
*[http://www.warbirdalley.com/l2.htm L-2 page at Warbird Alley]
*[http://www.als-cannonfield.com www.als-cannonfield.com - operates restored L-2s]

{{Taylorcraft aircraft}}
{{Piper Cub aircraft}}
{{USAF liaison aircraft}}
{{USAAF observation aircraft}}
{{USAF transports}}
{{US glider aircraft}}
{{USN glider aircraft}}

[[Category:1940s United States military reconnaissance aircraft|Taylorcraft L-2]]
[[Category:Taylorcraft aircraft|L-2]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1941]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]