Tourer / Aeronca L-3 Trainer Plane Scratchbuilt Plan
Background
In 1941, the United States Army Air Corps ordered four examples of the Aeronca 65 TC Defender, designated YO-58, for evaluation of the suitability of light aircraft for observation and liaison purposes. (It also placed similar orders with Piper and Taylorcraft Aircraft). Service tests during the US Army's annual maneuvers proved successful, and resulted in large orders being placed. In 1942, the O-58 was redesignated L-3.
When American forces went into combat after Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Force used the L-3 in much the same manner as observation balloons were used during World War I — spotting activities and directing artillery fire. It was also used for liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance which required airplanes to land and take off in short distances from unprepared landing strips. Liaison pilots would train on L-3s before moving on to front-line aircraft like the Piper L-4 or the Stinson L-5.
When American forces went into combat after Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Force used the L-3 in much the same manner as observation balloons were used during World War I — spotting activities and directing artillery fire. It was also used for liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance which required airplanes to land and take off in short distances from unprepared landing strips. Liaison pilots would train on L-3s before moving on to front-line aircraft like the Piper L-4 or the Stinson L-5.
Some L-3s were shipped to north Africa, and subsequently given to the Free French Forces in the area at the time. At least one of the aircraft served with US forces in Italy.[citation needed]And minimally one other did service in Normandy, as reported by the Detroit Free Press on 25 June 1944, with a photograph indicating transport of medical supplies to the advancing front-line regiments.
So, Ian had an excellent idea to design our own 4 channels trainer plane, which we haven't come up with any. He led the design phase by creating the most difficult task: designing the wing that must accommodate few things:
1. It's an airfoil wing
2. Needs to avoid tip stall when flying as it's targeted as trainer plane
3. It has to be easily constructed
4. Strong enough to take some bumps as it's aimed for new flyers.
Other flyers would also take advantage from these characteristics.
Ian flown the first prototype and Jeff followed after. Mine in this video was joining months after their successful maiden flights.
We successfully came up with our ultimate trainer that flies the way we want it to fly. Most aspects like excellent vertical balance, amazing strength and durability, as well as exceptional stability are met with this 4 channels trainer.
So, Ian had an excellent idea to design our own 4 channels trainer plane, which we haven't come up with any. He led the design phase by creating the most difficult task: designing the wing that must accommodate few things:
1. It's an airfoil wing
2. Needs to avoid tip stall when flying as it's targeted as trainer plane
3. It has to be easily constructed
4. Strong enough to take some bumps as it's aimed for new flyers.
Other flyers would also take advantage from these characteristics.
Ian flown the first prototype and Jeff followed after. Mine in this video was joining months after their successful maiden flights.
We successfully came up with our ultimate trainer that flies the way we want it to fly. Most aspects like excellent vertical balance, amazing strength and durability, as well as exceptional stability are met with this 4 channels trainer.
How to get the Plan The PDF plan is available for a small amount of donation which would be used to support underprivileged kids and help less fortunate families to learn how to build scratchbuilt rc planes and try to make a living from it by creating rc plane toys and repairing it.
We encourage you not to share or distribute the plan, individually or publicly as it may not bring support to the teaching activities we conduct for those kids and families. Notes: Plan is available in fully untiled A0 and tiled A4 paper size. The building process is simply straight forward. Much easier than our 3D fuselage parkjets. Tourer / Aeronca L-3 Walkaround and Maiden Flight
by Bimo Adi Prakoso |
Tourer / Aeronca L-3 Flight by Ian Bott
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