(Wikipedia) - Taylorcraft L-2

General Innis P. Swift, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, coined the ‘grasshopper’ name after witnessing a bumpy landing.

N47648 Taylorcraft L2-M/DCO-65 S/N 5416

The Taylorcraft L2-M, known as the Grasshopper, is a two place, tandem cockpit aircraft built for the U.S. Army for forward observation and artillery spotting. It was very popular with commanders in Europe during WWII. The museum aircraft never left the states during the war and was sold after only 1 year of service. It has had many owners and I'm sure a lot of them learned to fly in this aircraft. Of all the aircraft Taylorcraft produced, the L2 is the only tandem seat model. C. J. Taylor designed the J series cub while working with William T. Piper. Piper bought out Taylor when he objected to a redesign of the Cub. He then founded the Taylorcraft company in Ohio, where the popular T-craft aircraft were all produced.

29 November 1944 - Bill of sale transferring ownership from Defense Plant Corp. to C. L. Bidleman of McCamay, TX. The Army tail number was 43-26104, which means N47648 was just one year old when the Army sold it. The purchase price was $946.00.

16 May 1945 - Repair and Alteration form, ACA 337, states the aircraft was converted to NAC land plane instrument ship and listed the instruments and radios that were installed. The radio had one frequency and was crystal controlled.

20 July 1945 - Sold to W.P. Shuler of Odessa, TX for $1650.00.

20 July 1945 - Form ACA 337 states the aircraft was converted to NAC land plane contact day flight only. The vertical speed indicator, clock, turn and bank indicator, and venturi tube were removed. The total weight removed was 3.3 pounds.

21 February 1946 - Sold to Joe Amberson of San Antonio, TX.  

12 June 1946 - Sold to Captain Arthur R. Weber of Kelly Field, TX.

15 December 1946 - Sold to Joe Amberson of San Antonio, TX.

30 May 1949 - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) form 337 documents removing and replacing all the fabric with grade A fabric. The rear window was removed and replaced with a Taylorcraft furnished turtle back. The spoilers were removed and covered over. Eight coats of clear, two coats of silver and two coats of color were applied as finish.

1 April 1952 - Sold to Bert Wilcut of San Antonio, TX.

28 April 1952 - Sold to Loren Hawley of Pomona, CA.

26 October 1953 - Sold to Harry W. Carpenter of Los Angeles, CA.

5 October 1955 - The top of the fuselage was recovered with grade A fabric. Seven coats of clear and five coats of silver nitrate dope were applied as a finish.

25 July 1956 - Sold to Louis J. Daughtry of Los Angeles, CA.

22 January 1957 - Sold to Carl W. Lechleiter of Long Beach, CA. This bill of sale lists the aircraft as a model DCO-65.

8 July 1957 - The top half of the wings were stripped and recovered with grade A fabric. All of the interior woodwork of both wings was cleaned and varnished.  Seven coats of clear and six coats of silver nitrate dope were applied as a finished.

10 May 1960 - The fuselage, tail surfaces, and the ailerons were stripped and recovered with grade A fabric. Six coats clear and six coats of silver nitrate dope and two coats of synthetic enamel were applied as a finish.

14 June 1960 - Sold to Cedric Downs of Van Nuys, CA.

5 April 1961 - Sold to William Rodenberg of Burbank, CA.

1 March 1962 - FAA form 337 states the left and right wings, less the ailerons, were covered with Bonnex 208 per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA4-1210. One coat of Brolite Z spar 105 (white undercoat) was applied, and then 2 coats of Fuller Air Tech 7585 enamel was applied as finish.

26 July 1963 - Sold to Dillon K. Donielson of Burbank, CA.

22 August 1963 - FAA 337 with field approval, documents removing the Continental A-65 engine and installing the Continental A-80 engine. This form stated the Continental A-80 engine was derated to 75 horsepower (HP). The turn and bank and the venturi were reinstalled.

25 September 1964 - Sold to Richard L. Sagona of Burbank, CA.

6 September 1967 - The fuselage and rudder were recovered with Ceconite 101, no finish was specified. This form 337 has an entry dated 12 December 1964 stating it was ok to recover the fuselage, and an entry dated 29 March 1965 stating it was ok to recover the rudder. This entry is typical of those made during a major repair where the mechanic doing the work does not have an Inspection Authorization (IA). The mechanic with the IA is required to do an inspection prior to covering the work with fabric. This overhaul took a long time

6 Sept 1967 - The wings and ailerons were recovered with Ceconite 101. The fabric was finished with two coats of clear nitrate dope, four coats of silver butyrate, and two coats of color (Diana Cream) butyrate dope. There is an entry dated 17 February 1967 stating it was ok to recover the wings.

25 June 1969 - Sold to Billie Thompson of Santa Barbara, CA.

1 March 1971 - Sold to Jon R. Larson of Santa Margarita, CA.

1 January 1974 - Sold to Robert F. Bell of Oxnard, CA.

1 December 1976 - Sold to Thomas L. Roberts of Santa Barbara, CA.

14 October 1978 - A major overhaul was completed that included replacing several ribs, nose ribs, control cables, Plexiglas windows, fuel lines, and engine controls. New bungee?s, tires and brakes were also installed. The fuselage was stripped, sandblasted, repainted, and then recovered with Ceconite fabric. It was then finished with thirteen coats of dope, three of which were nitrate dope.

30 October 1980 - Sold to Timothy S. Haueter of Atascadero, CA and Gregory E. Lugo of Los Osos, CA.

15 February 1981 - The log book documents a sudden stoppage of the engine. The only action taken was to inspect the engine and propeller and change the oil.

5 July 1982 - Log book entry states the aircraft total time was computed from previous logs and states that the previous owner had purchased the plane in a basket.

3 September 1987 - The aircraft was approved for the use of unleaded automotive gasoline.

19 February 2005 - Sold to Richard A. Benner of Anchorage, AK. Dick Benner is a long time member of the Museum Board of Directors and is presently employed as the Museum?s Chief of Maintenance.

16 May 2005 - Sold to Don T. Keil Jr. of Anchorage, AK

4 October 2005 - Sold to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum of Anchorage, AK.

Has had 22 owners.