Aeronca L-16 Explained
| L-16 |
| Type: | Liaison aircraft |
| Produced: | 1946-1950 |
| Number Built: | 609 |
The Aeronca L-16 is a United States Army liaison aircraft built by Aeronca. It saw extensive service during the Korean War. It was essentially a militarized version of the Aeronca Champion. From 1955 large numbers were transferred to the Civil Air Patrol.
Derived from the Aeronca Champion (Aeronca Model 7 series), the L-16 primarily replaced the similar Piper L-4 (a modified Piper Cub) in U.S. military service. The L-16 afforded generally better performance, stability, visibility and comfort, while its safety characteristics were a mix of better and worse than the L-4.[1] [2] [3]
Variants
- L-16A (7BCM Champion)
509 built, 376 of them produced for the Air National Guard,[4] used in Korea 1950, 85 hp (63 kW) Continental O-190-1 (C85) engine.[5]
- L-16B (7CCM Champion)
Military version of the Model 7AC used as training aircraft for United States Army,[5] 90 hp (67 kW) Continental O-205-1 (C90) engine.[6] 100 were built.[7] Operators
Bibliography
- Book: Andrade, John . U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. 1979 . Midland Counties Publications. 0-904597-22-9.
- Eden, Paul and Moeng, Soph, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. .
- Book: Harding, Stephen . U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947 . registration . 1997 . Schiffer Publishing Ltd. . Atglen, PA, USA . 978-0-7643-0190-2 .
- Jones. Geoffrey P.. Liaison by Aeronca: L-16, Korean Veteran Turned 'Warbird' . Air Enthusiast . March–April 2001. 92. 13–15 . 0143-5450.
- Book: Swanborough . F. G. . Bowers . Peter M. . Peter M. Bowers . United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 . 1964 . London . Putnam.
Notes and References
- Aerofiles.com, "Aeronca" page, Aircraft section, retrieved Feb. 22, 2016
- Davisson, Budd. "Comparing the Classics: The Aeronca Champ," EAA/Sport Aviation, June 1997, Experimental Aircraft Association, as reproduced on the author's website, retrieved 2016-02-01
- Air Training Department, The Artillery School, U.S. Army, "The New Grasshopper—L-16," (semi-official U.S. Army tutorial written to guide pilots transitioning from the Piper L-4 to the Aeronca L-16) The Field Artillery Journal, Nov-Dec 1947, United States Army
- Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 33.
- Eden and Moeng, 2002. p. 44.
- Harding 1997, p. 13
- Andrade 1979, p. 130
