Taylorcraft Aviation is an airplane manufacturer that has been producing aircraft for more than 70 years in several locations.
16-672: 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 Forces ordered four Taylorcraft 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
32-517: Is a conventional layout: high-wing, fabric-covered, two-seat aircraft. The basic design has remained unchanged since 1936, and this design is sold as a personal sport aircraft today. The designer, Clarence Gilbert Taylor , a self-taught aeronautical engineer born in Rochester, New York, to parents who immigrated from England, can be called the father of private aviation in America, as he designed
48-405: Is delivering struts to customers. The design's type certificates, drawings, jigs, templates and parts have been put up for sale. Taylorcraft L-2 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 Forces ordered four Taylorcraft Ds with
64-668: 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 March 1942, the designation was changed to L-2 Grasshopper . In World War II, the Army Ground Forces began using the L-2 and other liaison aircraft 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
80-502: The "Taylorcraft" plane. That summer, the firm moved to Alliance, Ohio when the city offered the use of the former Hess-Argo biplane (28 built between 1929 and 1932) factory rent free for a period of six months with an option to buy for $ 48,000. During World War II, light aircraft were used for training, liaison, and observation purposes. Taylorcraft's DCO-65 model was called the L-2 by the United States Army Air Forces and served alongside
96-1143: The United States as the Model DCO-65. Several are still airworthy in 2021. The L-2 series meet the standards for light-sport aircraft (other than the L-2M, which has a gross weight rating five pounds over the 1,320-lb limit), thus can be flown by pilots holding the Sport Pilot Certificate . L-2 on display at the Fargo Air Museum, in Fargo, North Dakota. Data from Pilots Flight Operating Instructions, Army Model L-2, L-2A, L-2B, and L-2M Airplanes, T.O. No. 01-135DA-1, 1944 & The Taylorcraft Story, 1992 General characteristics Performance Avionics Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Taylorcraft Aircraft The company builds small single-engined airplanes . The Taylorcraft design
112-448: The company was offered for sale. The West Virginia-based company was set up to put one new model in certification, and develop a distribution network. The assets were sold to key investor East Kent Capitol. On February 21, 2008, the company was repossessed by its former owner, Taylorcraft 2000 LLC. The previous owners had taken orders for new struts for existing aircraft to alleviate a repetitive inspection Airworthiness Directive and
128-409: 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 March 1942,
144-533: The designation was changed to L-2 Grasshopper . In World War II, the Army Ground Forces began using the L-2 and other liaison aircraft 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 liaison (communication) and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance that required airplanes able to land and take off from roads, open fields, and hastily prepared landing strips. The L-2
160-600: The fall of 1946 production was halted following a fire in the Taylorcraft factory at Alliance, Ohio and the company went into bankruptcy. In 1949 C.G. Taylor bought the assets from the former company, and started a new company Taylorcraft, Inc. at Conway, Pennsylvania . The company restarted production of the BC-12D Traveller and the BC-12-85D Sportsman. The company produced few aircraft;
176-708: The military version of the Piper Cub. Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Ltd. , a subsidiary based in Thurmaston , Leicestershire , England , developed the Taylorcraft Model 'D' and the Auster Mk. I through Mk. V, which became the backbone aircraft of the British AOP ( air observation post ) and the three Canadian AOP squadrons, No. 664 Squadron RCAF , No. 665 Squadron RCAF , and No. 666 Squadron RCAF . In
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#1732776390307192-572: The original Taylor Cub in 1931 at Bradford, Pennsylvania . Taylor, along with his brother Gordon, formed Taylor Brothers Aircraft Corporation – slogan; "Buy Your Airplane Taylor Made" – in Rochester, New York in 1926 , offering a two-seat high-winged monoplane called the Taylor Chummy , priced at $ 4,000. The Chummy failed to sell, and after Gordon died flying another Taylor design in 1928, Clarence moved to Bradford, Pennsylvania , where
208-677: The townsfolk had offered him a new factory at the local airfield plus $ 50,000 to invest in the company. One of the investors was William Thomas Piper , who had made his money from oil wells . Piper bought out Taylor's share in Taylor Aircraft which was later renamed Piper Aircraft . Taylor vowed to build a personal aircraft superior to the Cub so he formed his own company in 1935 as Taylor-Young Airplane Company, renamed Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation in 1939. In 1936 Taylor rented facilities at Pittsburgh-Butler Airport and first manufactured
224-725: The type certificates were sold to Univair and production was halted. In 1971 the Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation, owned by Charles Feris put the Model 19 back into production as the F-19 Sportsman and added the F-21 model. Feris died in 1976 and the production continued at a low rate until 1985. Charles Ruckle bought the company in 1985 and he moved the operation to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania , where it produced 16 aircraft before it went bankrupt in 1986 and
240-411: Was also used for liaison (communication) and transport duties and short-range reconnaissance that required airplanes able to land and take off from roads, open fields, and hastily prepared landing strips. The L-2 was primarily used in a training role within the United States and few saw overseas deployment. Postwar, several L-2s were converted for civilian use and are operated by private pilot owners in
256-406: Was primarily used in a training role within the United States and few saw overseas deployment. Postwar, several L-2s were converted for civilian use and are operated by private pilot owners in the United States as the Model DCO-65. Several are still airworthy in 2021. The L-2 series meet the standards for light-sport aircraft (other than the L-2M, which has a gross weight rating five pounds over
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