General History

The Piper L-4 was a military version of the famous Piper Cub of the 1930’s.  It was designated in the “L” category, which was for Liaison aircraft.  Stinson, Taylorcraft, Aeronca and Piper were light plane manufacturers that built military versions of their civilian counterparts during World War II and were designated from L-1’s through L-5’s.   After initial evaluations, the first L-4’s were produced in 1941.  Different models were built and by the end of World War II, over 5000 were produced.  This particular aircraft is a “J” model and, along with the “H” model, were the most numerous produced.  They differed mainly from other models in that they had a manual controllable pitch propeller. 

Used mainly for support, the L-4 was used for scouting, mail delivery and moving personnel behind the lines.  With the pilot flying from the front, the observer could sit in the rear facing forwards or backwards.  With a table for maps, writing and radios, he could look rearward, out the extended windows and call in his observations.  In 1943 some L-4’s were used with a “Brodie” cable and harness where the aircraft could land after catching a cable slung between several poles, its wheels never touching the ground!  One enterprising Grasshopper pilot even attached several bazookas to the wing struts for use in ground support.

Personal History

This aircraft was purchased in Los Angeles, California in the mid 1980’s.  While this “J” model currently does not have its original controllable-type propeller installed, one has been acquired that will be overhauled for later installation.  With the original hand-crank located on the instrument panel, the pilot could manually rotate it to change the angle (pitch) of the propeller blades in flight.  By changing the pitch, maximum performance can be achieved whether climbing or cruising.

The aircraft was in the Weeks Air Museum during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and damage was confined mainly to the wings.  It was sent to Ken Kellet in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1993 for rebuild.  As Fantasy of Flight became a reality, Ken came to work for us and finished the aircraft in 1995.

Kermit Comment

When my sister Leslie mentioned to me that she wanted to learn to fly, I told her that she had to learn in a Piper Cub.  I had been collecting World War II aircraft for a while, modified my statement and found this military L-4 for sale in California, which she purchased.  My sister was in college at the time and we scheduled for her to fly back in her new airplane over her weeklong fall break.  I flew the airplane from L.A. to Phoenix where my sister and my girlfriend at the time, Linda Meyers, got in for the rest of the trip home.  On their first leg to Tucson, following Interstate 10, Leslie noticed that the cars were passing underneath them rather quickly.  Due to unusual headwinds, they had to land halfway and refuel.  They calculated their groundspeed at only 32 mph!  Making it to an airport just east of Tucson, they sat on the ground several days due to the strong winds.  Their problem was that they could not stay in the air long enough to make it to the next airport!  Fortunately, someone told them of a private dirt-strip about halfway to the next airport and on Thanksgiving Day they headed further east down Interstate 10 and found it next to a small town.  They saw a house near the airstrip and proceeded to find out if anyone was home.  The couple that lived there were relaxing after having just finished their Thanksgiving meal.  I can only imagine what they thought when two blondes knocked on their door and asked to borrow a gas can!   They had one and after several trips walking over to the local gas station, they filled up and took off again.  By the time they got to Texas, my sister was out of vacation and had to get back for school.  She got out near Ft. Worth and headed home by airline, leaving Linda to fly the rest of the trip alone.  By the time the L-4 made it to Miami, the total trip to get it home from L.A. was over an 11-day period and had logged 43 hours of flying time!

My sister soon became more interested in cars.  I learned that cars did not have the appeal for me that airplanes did so I traded her a Jaguar XKE that I had for the L-4.  I guess she decided that she would much rather have a fast car, than a slow airplane!