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Feb 22, 2024 · If you ask Bryan Rose what’s so special about the J-3 Cub, he would say, “It is the most iconic tail dragger on the planet. And for good reason! Look, a Champ is a wonder plane. But, if you fly a Champ and then immediately get in a Cub and fly it, there’s simply no comparison.” Rose would know.
- Specifications
- Prices
- Performance and Handling
- Maintenance Schedule
- Modifications and Upgrades
- Where to Find Replacement Parts
- Common Problems
- Insurance Options
- Resale Value
- Owner Reviews
General Characteristics
1. Crew: one pilot 2. Capacity: one passenger 2.1. Useful load: 455 lb (205 kg) 3. Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m) 4. Wingspan: 35 ft 3 in (10.74 ) 5. Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 6. Wing area: 178.5 sq ft (16.58 m2) 7. Empty weight: 765 lb (345 kg) 8. Max takeoff weight: 1,220 lb (550 kg) 9. Powerplant: 1 × Continental A-65-8 air-cooled horizontally opposed four cylinder, 65 hp (48 kW) at 2,350 rpm
Performance
1. Maximum speed: 76 kn (87 mph, 140 km/h) 2. Cruise speed: 65 kn (75 mph, 121 km/h) 3. Range: 191 nmi (220 mi, 354 km) 4. Service ceiling: 11,500 ft (3,500 m) 5. Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s) 6. Wing loading: 6.84 lb/sq ft (33.4 kg/m2) 7. Power/mass: 18.75 lb/hp (11.35 kg/kW)
Despite being such an old aircraft, second-hand PiperJ3 Cubs are not as cheap as you might expect. In the 1940s, a new Cub sold for $1595, which is equivalent to about $20,000 in today’s money. By the 1970s, Cubs were something of a bargain, selling for around $2500. But prices shot up in the 1980s and 1990s, and today a well-restored Cub is likely...
The J3 Cub was designed primarily as a trainer, so it was intended to be easy to fly. It is certainly not difficult, but it is of course a taildragger, and the majority of today’s pilots tend not to have much tailwheel time, if any. So if you decide to buy a Cub, do make sure you get some training in tailwheel aircraft. The actual flying is not all...
Maintenance for the Piper J3 Cub is fairly straightforward since it is a simple, basic airplane. Because it has been so popular for so long, you should not have too much difficulty in finding a mechanic who can work on it. And owners’ manuals are easily available on the internet if you do a search. As is the case for many old aircraft, quite a larg...
A large number of J3 Cub variants were produced, some of which are still available today. First came the military version, the J4, nicknamed the Grasshopper. This came along in 1940 and was used in the Second World War for reconnaissance, transporting supplies, and medical evacuation. In the late 1940s, with the J3 firmly established and with a lar...
Getting parts for your Cub is likely to be necessary at some time or another. Luckily, although Piper stopped making the Cub so long ago, finding parts for one is not likely to be a problem. There are a couple of companies specializing in used aircraft parts, and they will certainly have those parts likely to be needed for a Cub. These are Univair ...
Although the Cub is easy to fly, it has a surprisingly poor safety record. As already stated, stall/spin accidents tend to predominate, and there are also a relatively large number of engine failure accidents. And like most taildraggers, Cubs tend to have accidents on takeoff and landing, with ground loops being particularly common. Other problems ...
Ensuring the Piper J3 Cub is unlikely to cost you a fortune unless you are planning to instruct in it. The hull value is relatively low, and most accidents are at fairly low speed and tend to only damage the airplane rather than anything else. Insurance companies should be fairly happy with it, so long as you have a reasonable amount of training an...
One thing you can say about Cubs is that they hold their value. They may be relatively expensive, but when it comes to resale, they have always fetched better prices than their contemporaries. So although you may end up paying over the odds when you buy a Cub, you are unlikely to lose money if you come to resell it.
Cubs are old, and as already mentioned, have a certain romance about them, almost a cult status. As with most old aircraft, quite a lot of work is involved in keeping them in good condition. But owners and pilots tend to be extremely fond of them. Here are some examples of what they say: “I really love flying my Cub! I fly my Cub about 15 hours a m...
The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance.
Oct 9, 2024 · The J-3 Cub's genius lay in what it didn't have rather than what it did. Its simple systems meant easier maintenance, greater reliability, lower operating costs, and forgiving flight characteristics. These attributes made it an ideal trainer and contributed to its longevity.
- Contributor
Mar 5, 2024 · Today’s Top Pick is a 1947 Piper J-3C Cub. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Civilian Pilot Training Act in 1939 as part of a plan to boost the nation’s overall readiness for...
Nov 15, 2024 · Pilots looking for a classic, collectible and practical basic aircraft that looks great and is a joy to fly should consider this 1946 Piper J-3 Cub, which is available for $65,000 on...
Aug 3, 2012 · Why not the popular and versatile Cherokee, the pressurized single-engine Malibu or, perhaps, the remarkably utilitarian Super Cub? The J-3 Cub, I will admit, was a remarkably popular...
