WARBIRD REGISTRY > L-2 REGISTRY > PREVIOUS PAGE
The Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper is an American observation and liaison aircraft built by Taylorcraft for the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.

In 1941 the United States Army Air Force ordered four Taylorcraft Model Ds with the designation YO-57. They were evaluated in the summer of 1941 during maneuvers in Louisiana and Texas where they were used for support purposes such as light transport and courier. General Innis P. Swift, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, coined the 'grasshopper' name after witnessing a bumpy landing. This led to a production order under the designation O-57 Grasshopper. In 1942 the designation was changed to L-2 Grasshopper).

In World War II, the AAF began using the L-2 in much the same manner as the observation balloon was used in France during World War I--spotting enemy troop and supply concentrations and directing artillery fire on them. It was also used for other types of liaison and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance which required airplanes that could land and take off in minimum distances from unprepared landing strips.

Postwar, a number of L-2s were converted for civilian use and are operated by private pilot owners in the United States as the Model DCO-65.

Below is a partial list of surviving airframes.

43-474  (?-16)
43-483  (?-16)
43-25823  (?-16)
43-25831  (?-16)
43-25985  (A-12)
43-26086  (A-16)
43-26141  (?-16)
  43-26151  (?-16)
43-26225  (?-16)
43-26269  (?-92)
43-26689  (?-13)
43-26752  (?-16)
43-26753  (D-06)
Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
WARBIRD REGISTRY > L-2 REGISTRY > PREVIOUS PAGE