(209)651-0632

(209)651-0632

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    • Home
    • Services
    • Ferry & Transport
    • Pre-Purchase
    • Flight Training
    • FOR SALE
    • Videos & Manuals
    • About Us
    • Store
    • Log Book Storage
    • Buyer / Seller Agent
    • N89567
  • Home
  • Services
  • Ferry & Transport
  • Pre-Purchase
  • Flight Training
  • FOR SALE
  • Videos & Manuals
  • About Us
  • Store
  • Log Book Storage
  • Buyer / Seller Agent
  • N89567
Jakes AIr Repair Aircraft Services, Maintenance & COnsulting

Fix, Fly & Maintain. Treat your plane to the best.

Fix, Fly & Maintain. Treat your plane to the best.Fix, Fly & Maintain. Treat your plane to the best.

N9217H Photo Gallery


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    Additional Information

     

    1944 Piper L-4H Grasshopper
    N9217H
    43-30430 / 11721
    European Theatre Combat L-Bird


    Total Time Airframe: 1473+
    Engine SMOH: 155
    Engine TT: 2660
    Prop SNEW: 155
    Empty weight 739 Lbs
    1220 lbs GW
    Flown regularly (2-3 hrs/mo)


    Don’s Dream Machines C90-8F, May 2012
    Slick Magnetos / Impulse
    Stromberg Carb overhaul May 2012
    Sensenich W72GK46, new July 2012
    Univair Sealed Struts & heavy duty forks, February 2012
    Grove Brake STC, February 2012
    Restoration & PolyFiber / Tone covering August 2013
    Wood spars
    406 ELT, Internal VHF antenna, iCom A6 installed
    PS Engineering Intercom, PTT
    11.5 gallon (additional) in left wing. 23.5 gallons total
    Shoulder Harnesses front and rear, fire extinguisher
    Scott parking brake valves
    Always hangared. Professionally owned & maintained
    Annual completed March 2020
    Last compressions 78/79/74/78


    From the current owner:
    I found 43-30430 about 10 years ago in Kentucky. Then she was wearing
    Cub yellow, but had the heart and soul of a genuine wartime L-4H. The
    documentation found includes the May 1946 receipt from the USAAF
    reclamation yard for the aircraft for $300, sold to John S. Fleek, a former
    USAAF L-4H pilot who retired and was teaching mathematics at Harvard
    University. He had the aircraft shipped to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and
    filed a Form 337 converting his new L-4H into a J-3C (see form on last
    page). John was one of just a few owners over the years until I found her
    and was committed to dressing her back into uniform.
    During restoration I was committed to making her as authentic as possible
    while making her “flyable” with the addition of the bigger motor, extra gas,
    etc. All of the paint, markings, stencils are authentic to the year and unit.
    “44” is the designator for the 30th Infantry Division, and B is the second of
    the 12 units that were in that division. There is no electric, and no option
    to add a starter with the C90-8 motor. Hand propping is just part of the
    charm, and she starts right up.
    Nearing the end of the restoration I met a 96 year old young man who
    was a retired USAAF L-4 aviator. I tried to get him to sign the aircraft, but
    he was very unfortunately unable to hold the marker. While we were
    chatting, he told stories of sitting on his flak jacket and returning fire with
    his Colt 1911. He smiled as he told me, “we were just young men with
    nothing but the bare essentials.” At that time the nose art was painted but
    she had no name and I was looking for the right one.
    Several weeks later, after the help of many friends and dedicated
    enthusiasts, “Bear Essentials” took her first flight back in uniform.
    ** The information translated from the Aircraft Record Card comes from 3
    sources: a historian at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum,
    a separate private WW2 aircraft historian, and logbook entry's found by
    other L-Bird enthusiasts that contain this airframe number.
    Please email for access to more pictures, video & data.”


    US Army Air Forces Data Card Translation for N9217H / 43-30430 (11721)
    6 APR 1944: 43-30430 is “Factory Complete” @ Lockhaven, PA
    10 APR 1944: Accepted by USAAF @ factory, Lockhaven, PA
    13 APR 1944: AAF takes delivery. Crated and put on train
    19 APR 1944: Arrives by train @ Newark, NJ
    21 APR 1944: Departs as ships cargo
    16 MAY 1944: Arrives @ US Forces Receiving, Attlebridge, England
    23 MAY 1944: Receives AGF (Field Artillery) Conditional Inspection
    31 JUL 1944: Assigned to “GLUE” – 9th Air Force in England
    30 NOV 1944: (recorded 31 JAN 45) transferred to AGF and 30th ID
    16 DEC 1944: Battle of the Bulge begins
    25 JAN 1945: Battle of the Bulge ends
    31 JAN 1945: L-4 turned in to Mobile Reclamation & Repair by 30th ID
    01 MAR 1945: L-4 Returned back to 30th Infantry
    24 MAR 1945: 30th ID assault at the Rhine
    07 APR 1945: 30th ID takes Hamelin then Braunschweig
    19 AUG 1945: 30th ID returns to Indiana, USA
    31 MAY 1946: L-4 Purchased by John Fleek but stays in theater
    AUG ‘45 – APR ‘47: Data Card shows L-4 assigned to 9AAF Training Div
    21 MAR 1947: John Fleek issued registration # for 43-30430
    30 APR 1947: 43-30430 assigned to Central Field Commission, Paris
    13 JUN 1947: Arrives in US and transferred to Foreign Liquidation

    28 APR 1948: Airworthiness granted for N9217H


    Located at Meadowlake Airport Colorado KFLY.


    Delivery available. Will pack and ship anywhere in the world!
     


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