The Aircraft

The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem (fore and aft) seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time. It was the forerunner of the PA-18 and had its first flight 1938. Totally 19073 aircrafts of this type were built, the majority of them L-4s and other military variants, some of them with floats.

The aircraft's standard yellow paint has come to be known as “Cub Yellow” or "Lock Haven Yellow"

The Piper J-3 became the primary trainer aircraft. By war's end, 80 percent of all United States military pilots received their initial flight training in Piper Cubs. The need for new pilots created an insatiable appetite for the Cub. In 1940 the production rate increased to one Piper J-3 Cub being built every 20 minutes.

The Piper J-3 Cub instead of the PA-18 has no landing flaps. A curiosity of the J-3 is that when it is flown solo, the lone pilot normally occupies the rear seat for proper balance, to balance the fuel tank located at the firewall. The initial engine had only 40 HP. Later the power increased up to 85 HP.

Only a few Piper J-3 Cub are still in service. One of them is now located at the Traunlake in Austria with the registration N31068.

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 3 in (10.74 m)
• Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
• Wing area: 178.5 ft² (16.58 m²)
• Empty weight: 765 lb (345 kg)
• Useful load: 455 lb (205 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,220 lb (550 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Continental A-75-8 air-cooled flat four, 75 hp (56 kW), 2350 RPM

Performance

• Maximum speed: 76 kt (87 mph, 140 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 65 kt (75 mph, 121 km/h)
• Range: 191 NM (220 mi, 354 km)
• Service ceiling 11,500 ft (3,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
• Wing loading: 6.84 lb/ft² (33.4 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 18.75 lb/hp (11.35 kg/kW)

The Aircraft