L-21B

Piper L-21B-135 Super Cub (Replica)

National Warplane Museum

The Piper L-21 was a military variant of the famous Piper Super Cub, serving as a versatile observation and liaison aircraft for U.S. and allied forces during the post-WWII and Korean War periods. Lightweight, highly maneuverable, and capable of operating from unimproved airstrips, the L-21 played a crucial role in reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and command coordination missions throughout the 1950s and beyond.

Background

Building on the enormous success of the WWII-era Piper L-4 Grasshopper, Piper introduced the more powerful Super Cub in the late 1940s. The military adopted the L-21 variant, which featured a strengthened airframe, larger windows for better visibility, and a 135-horsepower engine. L-21s saw widespread service during the Korean War and early Cold War years, performing low-level observation, forward air control, and light utility roles in remote and rugged terrain where larger aircraft could not operate.

Use & Purpose

The L-21 was primarily used for short-range reconnaissance, artillery spotting, personnel transport, and liaison duties between front-line units and command posts. Its ability to take off and land in confined spaces made it ideal for front-line coordination in mountainous or undeveloped regions — particularly valuable during the Korean War's demanding terrain.

Museum Example

• Piper L-21B-135 Super Cub (Replica)

This aircraft was built in 1981 using a Wag-Aero Cuby kit, carefully constructed to represent a Korean War-era L-21 "Grasshopper." Registered as N90293 (Serial No. 690), the aircraft is fully airworthy and currently owned by a group of Museum members. Though not an original military production aircraft, it serves as a highly accurate flying tribute to the liaison and observation pilots who served in the post-WWII period, providing visitors with a vivid example of the aircraft’s size, design, and unique mission profile.