<article><hdr>Aerial shot of a Piper L-4 Grasshopper</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The Piper Cub was obtained in greater numbers for Army artillery spotting, gun-laying and front line liaison than any other commercially available lightplane. The aircraft was known as the Grasshopper in military service, with the designation L-4 being applied to early versions. Originally the designation was O-59, with more than 600 being delivered before this was changed to the L-4. Several thousand were ordered with numerous sub variants to signify those which were impressed into service from civilian ownership, along with those which were ordered directly from Piper with differing powerplants. Amongst these were the L-4A through L-4H models and the L-4J, plus those modified as gliders as the TG-8 which simply had the engine and fixed undercarriage removed. A simple cross axle landing gear fitment was added to enable the Grasshopper glider to land safely, with 250 of these being produced</hi>
