E-flite Piper L4 Grasshopper 250 ARF

Based on the ubiquitous Piper J3 Cub the military version known as the L-4 and nicknamed the “Grasshopper” was a two or three-seat, single-engine aircraft and the most widely used US liaison aircraft of World War Two.

The L-4 was employed in many different roles including transporting VIP’s from airfield to airfield, medical evacuation and general aerial observation. However, it was in this latter role as an artillery spotter for the US Army that the L4 reigned supreme. Relatively easy to fly and maintain the L-4 Grasshoppers took off from advanced landing fields and often flew at treetop height giving the enemy little chance of spotting them, they would then “pop up” and relay the enemies position back to the artillery who would reign down fire in advance of the attacking ground forces.

Most L-4 Grasshoppers were sold after World War Two, but a few were used by the US Army and Air Force during the early months of the Korean War.

Not really a warbird; well maybe it is!
Whist not normally considered a combat “warbird” as such, an L4 crewed by Lts. Duane Francies and William Martin en route to scout an area around Berlin during the last days of WW2 reputedly engaged in the last "dogfight" between Americans and Germans in WW2. They took on a German Fieseler "Storch" spotter plane and firing their pistols from their L-4 Cub, forced the Storch to land and its two occupants to be captured by an American troop convoy that had watched the action from below.

EFL 5025 Piper L4 Grasshopper 250 ARF
E-flite has captured all of the war time character of the full-size aircraft with this superb lightweight rendition of a WW2 L4 Grasshopper.

Designed to fly using a Park 250 motor this almost-ready-to-fly model comes complete with a fully painted and detailed lightweight balsa airframe covered in Ultracote™ in an Olive Drab colour scheme based on an L-4 that entered service with USAAF during 1944 and served with the 30th Infantry Division of the Twelfth Army Group wearing the code 44-E.

In addition to the accurate colour scheme the L4 also features pre-formed crystal clear cockpit glazing, a pre-painted fibreglass cowl with dummy flat four cylinder Continental engine detail and ”doughnut” style Cub wheels.

The wing is held in place by a unique method that features a carbon wing tube with magnetic plug-in wing panels that do away with the need for wing-bolts, whilst the pre-painted wing struts simply plug-in. To reduce build time even further the tail plane and control surfaces come ready installed without the need for any additional building or gluing. Access to the flight battery is via the magnetic battery hatch and this is quickly and easily removed when it’s time to change or recharge the batteries with no need to remove the wing.

The L4 Cub is a very stable flyer and when throttled back in large halls or on calm days outside full advantage can be made of its docile nature with realistically slow flight being the order of the day especially during the landing approach, when very scale-like flights can be achieved.

E-flite’s comprehensive hardware pack and a photo illustrated assembly guide complete this handsome model.

Features:

• Lightweight built up balsa airframe
• Carbon tube spar with magnetic plug-in wings with no bolts or screws to disassemble
• Designed around the Park 250 and the S60 servos
• Plug-in wing struts for fast assembly
• Detailed colour scheme covered in UltraCote™ UltraLite
• Accurate scale appearance with minimal weight
• Easy access magnetic hatch
• Battery installation and removal is quick and easy
• Pre-hinged control surfaces
• Pre-installed tail surfaces
• Quick assembly time with no gluing required
• Fibreglass cowling with moulded dummy engine cylinders

Technical Specifications:
Wingspan: 970mm (38.2 in)
Wing Area: 13.5 sq dm (210 sq in)
Length: 600mm (23.7 in)
Weight without Battery: 227–247 g (8.00–8.70 oz)
Weight with Li-Po Battery: 255–275 g (9.00–9.70 oz)
Radio: 4+ channel with 4 super sub-micro servos

Suggested Build Up Parts
Motor: Park 250 Outrunner 2200Kv (EFLM1130)
Speed Controller: 10Amp Brushless (EFLA1010)
Battery: 2 cell 7.4Volt 430mah Li-Po (EFLB4302SJ)
Radio : Spektrum DX5e/DX6i/DX7
Receiver: AR6110E/AR500
Servos: S60 Sub Micro x 4 (EFLRDS60)
Prop: 6 x 5.5 (HFL7608)

Stock No. : EFL5025