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This is an In-flight view of the first production Consolidated Vultee L-13A S/N 46-068.
The L-13 was originally designed by Stinson Aircraft at their Wayne, Michigan facility. Two prototypes were built and flown by Stinson at Wayne, MI.
The L-13’s primary mission was liaison,
reconnaissance and air-ambulance. Some of its unique characteristics is its ability to fold its wings and rotate the main gear inboard to allow over the road towing by truck.
With the sale of the Stinson
division to Piper in late 1948, Consolidated Vultee kept the rights to the L-13, and put it into production at the San Diego Convair plant. Eventually 300 L-13's were built. Even though the L-13 was built as an
observation aircraft it was given the Liaison or “L” designation.
It was the only “L” series aircraft built by Convair.
While the prototypes and subsequent production models flew with Franklin engines, the Museums L-13 currently has a Continental 220 Radial engine and will be upgraded to a Pratt & Whitney 985 WASP
radial when the restoration is complete.
Restoration is expected to begin in 2006.
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