Piper developed a military variant ("All we had to do," Bill Jr. is quoted as saying, "was paint the Cub olive drab to produce a military airplane"), variously designated as the O-59 (1941), L-4 (after April 1942), and NE (U.S. Navy). The L-4 Grasshopper was mechanically identical to the J-3 civilian Cub, but was distinguishable by the use of a lt Plexiglas greenhouse skylight and rear windows for improved visibility, much like the Taylorcraft L-2 and Aeronca L-3 also in use with the US armed forces. Carrying a single pilot and no passenger, the L-4 had a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h), a cruise speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), a service ceiling of 12,000 ft (3,658 m), a stall speed of 38 mph (61 km/h), an endurance of three hours, and a range of 225 mi (362 km). 5,413 L-4s were produced for U.S. forces, including 250 built for the U.S. Navy under contract as the NE-1 and NE-2.
Features: - All Balsa and lite-ply construction - Fully covered in weathered detail - Fiberglass cowling - Control surfaces pre-hinged and installed - Two piece wing with aluminium wing joiner - Door can open-close - Big battery hatch for Electric version
Includes: - Assembly instructions with stage photos - Plywood seat. - Fiberglass cowling with cowling hatch can open - close - Aluminium landing gear, Plastic cover & Wheels - Aluminium wing joiner - Wing strutsDoes not include: radio, motor, glue, and silicon fuel line
