1. Design and construction

2. Operational history

3. Variants

4. Surviving aircraft

5. Specifications (Model LC)

6. Notes

7. References

The Aeronca L was a 1930s American cabin monoplane designed and built, in small numbers, by Aeronca Aircraft. It differed significantly from other Aeronca planes by the use of radial engines, streamlining, and a cantilever low wing.^[1][2]

Design and construction

Quite unlike other Aeronca designs, the Model L was a "cantilever" (no external struts for bracing) low-wing monoplane, that featured side-by-side seating in a completely enclosed cabin.^[1][2] The design reflected the greater attention being paid to aerodynamics in the period, including large wheel spats for the fixed undercarriage^[1] and a Townend ring for the engine.^[3] The aircraft was of mixed-construction with a welded steel fuselage and wings with spruce spars and ribs, all covered with fabric.

Initial attempts to use Aeronca's own engines proved inadequate, and the company turned to small radial engines from other suppliers—particularly neighboring Cincinnati engine manufacturer LeBlond.^[1][2]

Operational history

The Model L was mainly flown by private pilot owners. The plane was not a big seller. Difficulty with engine sources, and a destructive flood, in 1937, at Aeronca's factory at Cincinnati's Lunken Airport, took the energy out of the program, and Aeronca went back to high-wing light aircraft.^[1][2]

(With the end of sales to Aeronca, LeBlond sold their engine-manufacturing operation to an Aeronca-rival planemaker, Kansas City-based Rearwin Aircraft, who resumed production of the engines under the brand name "Ken-Royce," largely for use in Rearwin planes).^[1][2]

Variants

LA

Fitted with a {{convert|70|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} LeBlond 5DE engine, 9 built

LB

Fitted with a {{convert|85|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} LeBlond 5DF engine, 29 built

LC

Fitted with a {{convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Warner Scarab Jr engine, 15 built

LD

Fitted with a {{convert|90|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Lambert R-266 5-cyl. radial engine.

Surviving aircraft

The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a 1937 Aeronca LC in its collection.^[3]

The Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum of Hood River, Oregon, has an airworthy Aeronica LC. Aeronca LB N16271 is in final stages of restoration as of Jan.,2015; Aeronca LC NC17442 (cn 2056) is also on display in the Museum.^[4]

Specifications (Model LC)

|ref=EAA

|crew=one, pilot
|capacity=1 passenger
|payload main=
|payload alt=
|length main= 22 ft 6 in
|length alt=6.9 m
|span main=36 ft
|span alt=10.9 m
|height main= 7 ft
|height alt=2.1 m
|area main= 150 ft² (13.9 m²)
|area alt=
|airfoil=
|empty weight main= 1034 lb
|empty weight alt=
|loaded weight main=
|loaded weight alt=
|useful load main=
|useful load alt=
|max takeoff weight main= 1,852 lb
|max takeoff weight alt= 850 kg
|more general=

|engine (prop)=Warner Scarab Jr
|type of prop=piston engine
|number of props=
|power main= 90 hp
|power alt=67 kW
|power original=
|propeller or rotor?=
|propellers=
|number of propellers per engine=
|propeller diameter main=
|propeller diameter alt=

|max speed main= 123 mph
|max speed alt= 198 km/h
|max speed more=
|cruise speed main= 105 mph
|cruise speed alt=
|cruise speed more=
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt=
|stall speed more=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt=
|range main= 535 miles
|range alt=860 km
|range more=
|combat radius main=
|combat radius alt=
|combat radius more=
|ferry range main=
|ferry range alt=
|ferry range more=
|ceiling main=
|ceiling alt=
|climb rate main=
|climb rate alt=
|loading main=
|loading alt=
|thrust/weight=
|power/mass main=
|power/mass alt=
|more performance=
}}

Notes

References

• Taylor, J. H. (ed) (1989) Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions: London. p. 31
• Holcomb's Aerodrome

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