How much does a used Piper L4 cost?

Name: Piper L4
Brand: Piper

PLANEFILE

PiperCertified · Fixed-wing · United States

L4

Seats: 2 2
Power: 64 hp48 kW
Cruise: 65 kt121 km/h
US register: 2 aircraft2 aircraft

Piper L4 — Photo: Alec BHX/KKC · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Alec BHX/KKC · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Ronnie Macdonald · BY 2.0Photo: HawkeyeUK · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: HawkeyeUK · CC BY-SA 2.0

About the L4

The Piper L-4 Grasshopper is a United States fixed-wing aircraft designed for liaison and observation duties. It suits operations requiring versatility and good visibility from an enclosed cockpit layout. Built for a crew of two sitting in tandem, it features a single engine configuration.

Developed from a lightweight tourism plane created during an economic downturn, the design later transitioned into military service. It saw extensive operational use across multiple conflicts worldwide, including acting as an aerial ambulance and performing artillery fire spotting. Many units were subsequently returned to civilian roles or preserved as vintage aircraft.

Engines fitted

1 aircraft

Engine	Power	Share of fleet	Aircraft
Continental A&C65 series	65 hp		1

This page covers the Piper L-4 Cub, L-4C, L-4D, L-4E, L-4F, L-4G, L-4J: the same aircraft under other designations.

Specifications

J3C-65 Cub · Continental A-65-8

Dimensions

Length: 22 ft 5 in 6.83 m6.83 m 22 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 35 ft 3 in 10.74 m10.74 m 35 ft 3 in
Wing area: 178 sq ft 16.6 m²16.6 m² 178 sq ft

Weights

Empty weight: 761 lb 345 kg345 kg 761 lb
Max take-off weight: 1,213 lb 550 kg550 kg 1,213 lb

Performance

Cruise speed: 65 kt 121 km/h121 km/h 65 kt
Max speed: 76 kt 140 km/h140 km/h 76 kt
Stall speed: 33 kt 61 km/h61 km/h 33 kt
Range: 191 nm 354 km354 km 191 nm
Service ceiling: 11,500 ft 3,500 m3,500 m 11,500 ft
Rate of climb: 450 ft/min 2.3 m/s2.3 m/s 450 ft/min

Powerplant

Engine: Continental A-65-8
Engine power: 64 hp 48 kW48 kW 64 hp

Capacity

Seats: 2

Manufacturer: Piper
Country: United States
On the US register: 2
Registered in: United States
Official website: piper.com

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L4 prices

Asking prices of those for sale now, US dollars

Asking prices for the 3 Piper L4 aircraft for sale with a price run from $62,163 to $100,262, with a median of $75,000.

{# the label links to these aircraft for sale, built in that span. On the label and not the count: the bands count every aircraft on the market (on_market) while the grid shows only those with a photo (live), so the count is not a promise of how many cards appear. A band cached before year_min existed renders as plain text rather than a link to an unfiltered list. #}

By year built
Built	For sale	Median asking	Range	Median hours
1940–1944	3	$81,200	$62,163 – $100,262	4,700
1945–1949	1	$75,000	$75,000	–

L4 running costs

$167 an hour

Hours a year Aircraft value (USD)

A year
	Low	Typical	High
Fuel	$2,265	$2,870	$3,315
Oil	$52	$65	$84
Engine overhaul reserve	$2,167	$2,667	$4,833
Annual inspection and maintenance	$2,500	$3,500	$4,500
Hangar	$3,000	$6,300	$9,600
Insurance	$975	$1,275	$1,575

Total	$10,959	$16,677	$23,907
Per hour	$110	$167	$239