Boeing L-15 Scout

Light Liaison Observation Aircraft [ 1947 ]

The L-15 was a Boeing attempt at a light observation aircraft that was extremely portable, though the design did not lead up to any contracts for the firm.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/30/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The L-15 Scout was a light and small observation liaison aircraft produced in limited numbers by the Boeing Aircraft Company following World War 2 - only twelve of the type were produced with the United States Army becoming its top operator. First flight was achieved on July 13th in 1947 and production spanned from 1947 into 1949.

The L-15 Scout represented a new direction for the Boeing company in the post-war world, a world that no longer needed high production rates and cutting edge designs of piston-engine combat aircraft. The all-metal construction L-15 was designed for operations from short runways (STOL - Short Take-Off and Landing) - wherever terrain might work against other larger aircraft - and specifically intended for the light scout observation role (the aircraft offered great all-around visibility), an attempt on Boeing's part to diversify its offerings in the post-war economy. The L-15 was designed at Boeing's Wichita, Kansas facility.

The L-15 Scout took on a distinct external configuration. The aircraft featured a high mounted monoplane wing assembly to which were affixed "flaperons", wing devices that could double as ailerons and flaps. The two-person crew, made up of the pilot and the observer, sat in a glassed-in nacelle-type fuselage under the main span of the wings. The engine was mounted at the extreme front of the fuselage with the empennage extended out over the rear portion of the aircraft. The tail section was distinctly adorned with twin vertical tail fins. The undercarriage was a conventional "tail-dragger", with two main landing gears and a tail wheel. All were fixed (no retraction of the units) and the tail wheel was positioned under the rearward portion of the fuselage nacelle. The aircrafts size made it suitable for transport in a C-97 aircraft, that is once broken down for the journey. Should the mission call for it, the L-15 could also be fitted with twin floats for water landings.

Power was derived from a single Lycoming O-290-7 series four cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed engine delivering 125 horsepower. A top speed of 112 miles per hour was possible along with a service ceiling of 16,400 feet. The aircraft could climb at a rate of 628 feet per minute and performance handling was reportedly quite good.

As fate would have it, the L-15 did not prove a financial success and became Boeing's final single-engine offering for the small-aircraft market. As can be inferred from the text, no firm L-15 Scout contracts were secured.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Boeing Wichita - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

1947
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Retired
Project Status

2
Crew

12
Units

MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

25.0 ft
(7.62 meters)
Length

40.0 ft
(12.19 meters)
Width/Span

8.7 ft
(2.65 meters)
Height

1,512 lb
(686 kilograms)
Empty Weight

2,055 lb
(932 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+542 lb
(+246 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Lycoming 0-290-7 piston engine developing 125 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
Propulsion

112 mph
(180 kph | 97 knots)
Max Speed

16,398 ft
(4,998 m | 3 miles)
Ceiling

628 ft/min
(191 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

None.

L-15 - Base Series Designation

YL-15

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