Read about this performers story in the Belleville News-Democrat

Piper L-4 “Grasshopper”

The L-4, originally designated the O-59, was the military version of the famous Piper J3 Cub. The U.S. Army Air Forces ordered the first O-59s in 1941 for tests in conjunction with its growing interest in the use of light aircraft for liaison and observation duties in direct support of ground forces. Between 1941 and 1945, the USAAF procured almost 6,000 Piper Aircraft.

During World War II, Grasshoppers performed a wide variety of functions throughout the world such as artillery fire direction, pilot training, glider pilot instruction, courier service and front-line liaison.

This aircraft was delivered on 18 Aug 1942 and assigned to the US Army Ground Forces, Post Field OK.  On 15 May 1946, it was declared excess and placed in storage at South Plains AAF TX.  It was removed from storage on 16 Jun 1947 and transferred to the South Carolina Wing, Civil Air Patrol, and stationed at Douglas AP, Charlotte SC.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Engine: Continental O-170 of 65 hp
Maximum speed: 85 mph
Cruising speed: 75 mph
Range: 190 miles
Ceiling: 9,300 ft.
Span: 35 ft. 3 in.
Length: 22 ft. 5 in.
Height: 6 ft. 8 inches
Weight: 1,200 lbs. maximum

The Pilot

Brian “Brain” Kissinger enlisted in the Florida Air National Guard at 18 as a heavy equipment operator while attending the University of Florida.  He married Priscilla Hettler and they later had their first daughter.  In 1990 he graduated first in his Air Force ROTC class and their young family moved to Mather Air Force Base where he attended Air Force Navigator training.  After earning his wings, he served in a variety of Special Operations assignments flying MC-130 E & H models around the world.  After his initial 8-year active duty term he transitioned into the Air Force Reserves and was later mobilized after the events of 9-11.  He served in Tajikistan and other locations overseas and stateside.

In 2003, while still on active duty at Scott Air Force Base, he was diagnosed with a stage II oligodendroglioma brain tumor and was medically retired in early 2005.  He currently works for General Electric Healthcare.

Brian’s first solo was at the age of 19 in Gainesville, Florida where he washed and waxed airplanes in exchange for flight time.  After leaving the active duty Air Force in 1998 he was able to save enough money to buy his first airplane, a 1946 Luscombe, and earned his commercial and certificated flight instructor ratings (single & multi-engine and instrument).  Since then he has bought and sold a variety of airplanes and enjoyed every minute of being in the air and tinkering with airplanes.

Building and flying the L-4 to raise at least $100,000 for brain tumor and cancer research is a natural extension of Brian’s love and fascination of aviation.  It is also a great way to celebrate life, allowing him to define the disease instead of the other way around.

If you are interested in helping Brian reach his goal, please stop by and see him in the large hanger to make a donation or click HERE to donate on-line.

Photo courtesy of the United States Air Force
Information courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia