L-13 Grasshopper

Specifications:

Engine:

245 hp Franklin 0-425-9, flat 6

L-13 General Information:  Manufactured by Consolidated-Vultee/Convair, the L-13 was built as an observation aircraft.  It was the only one of the L series aircraft built by Convair.  Their apparent desperation to get into this market is suggested by the aircraft's aerodynamic over-engineering and poor human engineering.  It's primary missions were as liason, recce, ambulance, jack-of-all-trades and helicopter wanna-be.  

N7412H:  This is a rare bird.  Our understanding is that there are only two flying in their original configuration but we haven't verified that yet.  Many of the airframes were converted to dusters.  

This aircraft was donated by Bill & Valerie Anders to the Heritage flight museum in October of 2000.  

L-13 being towed backwards by 1942 Ford GPW (a.k.a."Jeep") won 1st place in Orcas Island Independence day parade.  Empennage and wings fold and wheel struts rotate inward so that aircraft can negotiate narrow jeep tracks.  One can imagine why the Army quickly replaced these rather ungainly aircraft with helicopters.	L-13 observation aircraft with "Snoopy" nose art and wings and empennage unfolded prior to flight over end of Orcas Island Independence day parade.  On the right is pilot and LSU geography professor Dr. Dydia "Red" DeLyser in a WWII flight B15A flight jacket with the Disney designed "Fifinella" flight patch honoring the WASP (Woman's Army Service Pilots) ferry pilots.  On the left is artillery controller, Bill Anders, in Korean War era flight gear.  Jeep driver is our favorite Tovarich, soviet machine gunner, Paul Greenstein in WWII Russian infantry dress (they were our allies then) and passenger Julia Lerault honoring French resistance fighters.
Somewhat gangly looking and very lightly wing loaded aircraft.  Hard to see but note the leading edge slats on the outboard portion of the wing.  It can land and stop on a dime.  In fact, for strong crosswinds the Flight Manual advises to land across the runway!	This view gives a good idea of the almost all glass environment you are flying in when you fly this plane.  It helps with the observation portion of the mission it was designed for.
It's not quite open cockpit flying but pretty darn close.  Snoopy "observing" from a jeep is very appropriate nose art as this aircraft can fold it's wings back and be towed by a jeep!	She does fly, not often, but she does.
A beautiful restoration of a poorly laid out panel.  All in all she has great visibility--- except forward for the pilot!	The "fourth seat" position is actually where the camera goes.  And yes, even the camera is restored so she's FMC! (Fully Mission Capable for you non-military types)