Aeronca L-16

L-16
General information
Type	Liaison aircraft
Manufacturer	Aeronca
Primary users	United States Army National Guard of the United States Civil Air Patrol
Number built	609
History
Manufactured	1946-1950
Developed from	Aeronca Model 7 Champion

A 1956-built Aeronca 7BCM in 2011 painted to represent an L-16A

The Aeronca L-16 is a United States Army liaison aircraft built by Aeronca. It saw extensive service during the Korean War and was essentially a militarized version of the Aeronca Champion. From 1955, large numbers were transferred to the Civil Air Patrol. ^[1]

Derived from the Aeronca Champion (Aeronca Model 7 series), the L-16 primarily replaced the similar Piper L-4 (a modified Piper Cub) in U.S. military service. The L-16 afforded generally better performance, stability, visibility, and comfort, while its safety characteristics were a mix of better and worse than the L-4. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Variants

L-16A (7BCM Champion)

509 built, 376 of them produced for the Air National Guard, ^[5] used in Korea 1950, 85 hp (63 kW) Continental O-190-1 (C85) engine. ^[6]

L-16B (7CCM Champion)

Military version of the Model 7AC used as training aircraft for United States Army, ^[6] 90 hp (67 kW) Continental O-205-1 (C90) engine. ^[7] 100 were built. ^[1]

Operators

  United States

• National Guard of the United States
• United States Army
• Civil Air Patrol

  Japan

• National Safety Forces

Specifications (L-16B)

3-view line drawing of the Aeronca L-16

Data fromUnited States Military Aircraft Since 1909 ^[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
• Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
• Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m²)
• Empty weight: 890 lb (404 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-205-1 (C90) air-cooled flat-four, 90 hp (67 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
• Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 14,500 ft (4,400 m)
• Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)

See also

Related development

• Aeronca Model 7 Champion

References

1. Andrade 1979, p. 130
2. "Aeronca" page, Aircraft section, retrieved Feb. 22, 2016
3. Davisson, Budd. "Comparing the Classics: The Aeronca Champ," EAA/Sport Aviation, June 1997, Experimental Aircraft Association, as reproduced on the author's website, retrieved 2016-02-01
4. Air Training Department, The Artillery School, U.S. Army (November–December 1947). "The New Grasshopper — L-16" (PDF). The Field Artillery Journal. 37 (6). United States Army Field Artillery Association: 355–356. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
5. Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 33.
6. Eden and Moeng, 2002. p. 44.
7. Harding 1997, p. 13

Bibliography

• Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN   0-904597-22-9.
• Eden, Paul and Moeng, Soph, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN   0-7607-3432-1.
• Harding, Stephen (1997). U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947 . Atglen, PA, USA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN   978-0-7643-0190-2.
• Jones, Geoffrey P. (March–April 2001). "Liaison by Aeronca: L-16, Korean Veteran Turned 'Warbird'". Air Enthusiast (92): 13–15. ISSN   0143-5450.
• Swanborough, F. G.; Bowers, Peter M. (1964). United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. London: Putnam.