Drawing - Paul Matt - Aeronca LB

The Aeronca L was a 1930s American designed cabin type monoplane. It was built in limited numbers by Aeronca Aircraft Company. It differed significantly from other Aeronca airplane designs in that it used a radial engine powerplant, streamlining, and a cantilevered low wing.

The Model L was the designation for "cantilever" (no external struts for bracing) low-wing monoplane. The L models featured side-by-side seating in a completely enclosed cabin. The design reflected the attention being paid to aerodynamics during the period, which in this model included large wheel spats for the fixed undercarriage and a cowl ring for the engine. The aircraft was of mixed-construction with a welded steel fuselage, and wings with spruce spars and ribs that was covered with fabric.

Aeronca's engines proved to be inadequate, so the company turned to small, radial type engines from other suppliers — particularly the Cincinnati engine manufacturer LeBlond.

The Model L was mainly flown by private pilot owners. The airplane was not a big seller. Difficulty with engine sources — and a destructive flood in 1937 at Aeronca's factory at Cincinnati's Lunken Airport — eventually stopped the aircraft’s development program. As a result, Aeronca went back to its high-wing light aircraft manufacturing.

With the end of sales to Aeronca, LeBlond sold their engine-manufacturing operation to an Aeronca-rival planemaker, Kansas City-based Rearwin Aircraft. The then resumed production of the engines under the brand name "Ken-Royce," largely for use in Rearwin airplanes.

Designations

• LA: 70 hp (52 kW) LeBlond 5DE engine, 9 built
• LB: 85 hp (63 kW) LeBlond 5DF engine, 29 built
• LC: 90 hp (67 kW) Warner Scarab Jr engine, 15 built
• LD: 90 hp (67 kW) Lambert R-266 5-cylinder radial

Specifications

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 22 ft 6 in. (6.9 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (10.9 m)
• Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Wing area: 150 ft² (13.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 1034 lb
• Max. takeoff weight: 1,852 lb (850 kg)
• Powerplant: Warner Scarab Jr piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW) each
• Maximum airspeed: 123 mph (198 km/h)
• Cruise airspeed: 105 mph
• Range: 535 miles (860 km)

* All drawings and photos are high resolution — 300 dpi