Piper J-5 Cruiser

A modest expansion in the capabilities of the J-3 and J-4 range was achieved with the Piper J-5 Cruiser which, although basically similar to the J-3, had a minimal increase in fuselage width to provide three-seat accommodation. First seen in early 1940 as the J-5A Cruiser with a 56kW Continental A75-8 engine, it became available subsequently as the J-5B with a similarly powered Avco Lycoming GO-145-C2 engine, then being designated J-5C with the installation of a 75kW Avco Lycoming O-235-C. Civil J-5A and J-5B aircraft were impressed for service with the US Army during World War II under the designations L-4F and L-4G respectively, and the US Navy procured 100 aircraft similar to the J-5C under the designation HE-1. These had the 75kW Avco Lycoming O-235-2, and a hinged top decking to the rear fuselage to allow the loading and unloading of a stretcher; when, in 1943, the designation letter H was allocated to identify helicopters, the HE-1s were redesignated AE-1. When production ended a total of 1,404 J-5 Cruisers had been built.