36-463: 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. The Cub is Piper Aircraft's most-produced model , with nearly 20,000 built in the United States. Its simplicity, affordability and popularity invokes comparisons to
72-674: A general aviation aircraft. Due to its performance, it was well suited for a variety of military uses such as reconnaissance, liaison and ground control. It was produced in large numbers during World War II as the L-4 Grasshopper . Many Cubs are still flying today. Cubs are highly prized as bush aircraft . The aircraft's standard chrome yellow paint came to be known as "Cub Yellow" or "Lock Haven Yellow". The Taylor E-2 Cub first appeared in 1930, built by Taylor Aircraft in Bradford, Pennsylvania . Sponsored by William T. Piper ,
108-425: A maximum gross takeoff weight of 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) or less. Light aircraft are used as utility aircraft commercially for small-scale passenger and freight transport ; for sightseeing, photography, cropdusting , and other so-called aerial work roles of civil aviation ; for the personal-use aspect of general aviation ; and in certain aspects of military aviation . Examples of aircraft that are at
144-497: A Bradford industrialist and investor, the affordable E-2 was meant to encourage greater interest in aviation. Later in 1930, the company went bankrupt, with Piper buying the assets, but keeping founder C. Gilbert Taylor on as president. In 1936, an earlier Cub was altered by employee Walter Jamouneau to become the J-2 while Taylor was on sick leave. Some believed the "J" stood for Jamouneau, while aviation historian Peter Bowers concluded
180-699: A beneficiary with tools of his trade and the repair of a pair of working boots. In 2010 the Fund spent over £23 million on welfare provision. The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was originally known as the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund as one of their charitable objects was to raise a memorial to airmen who died in the First World War . The Royal Air Force Memorial was completed in 1923. The monument, in Portland stone surmounted by
216-583: A cruise speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), a service ceiling of 12,000 ft (3,658 m), a stall speed of 38 mph (61 km/h), an endurance of three hours, and a range of 225 mi (362 km). Some 5,413 L-4s were produced for U.S. forces, including 250 built for the U.S. Navy under contract as the NE-1 and NE-2. All L-4 models, as well as other tandem-seat light aircraft from Aeronca and Taylorcraft , were collectively nicknamed "Grasshoppers", although any liaison plane, regardless of manufacturer,
252-562: A fire in the Piper factory, a former silk mill in Bradford, Pennsylvania , ended its production in 1938. After Piper moved his company from Bradford to Lock Haven , Pennsylvania, the J-3, which featured further changes by Jamouneau, replaced the J-2. The changes integrated the vertical fin of the tail into the rear fuselage structure and covered it simultaneously with each of the fuselage's sides, changed
288-650: A gilded eagle, can be seen on Victoria Embankment. Fundraising for the RAF Benevolent Fund occurred outside the UK as well. Prior to the United States entering World War II, Piper Aircraft Company produced 49, one for each state in the US plus another, Piper J-3 aircraft with RAF insignia and nicknamed the Flitfire , to be auctioned to benefit the Fund. On 29 April 1941 all 48 aircraft flew into La Guardia Field for
324-672: A licensee in Oklahoma. In the late 1940s, the J-3 was replaced by the Piper PA-11 Cub Special (1,500 produced), the first Piper Cub version to have a fully enclosed cowling for its powerplant and then the Piper PA-18 Super Cub , which Piper produced until 1981 when it sold the rights to WTA Inc. In all, Piper produced 2,650 Super Cubs. The Super Cub had a 150 hp (110 kW) engine which increased its top speed to 130 mph (210 km/h). Its range
360-607: A range of support for serving RAF and their dependents, from support with childcare and relationship difficulties to help with retraining, injury, disability, illness and bereavement. For former serving RAF members and their partners, the Fund offers financial grants to aid day-to-day living, cover one-off unexpected costs for practical items like a new fridge or replace a broken boiler, right through to renovating homes to help people live independently. The Fund can provide respite care, bereavement support or arrange telephone groups to help those isolated or lonely. The RAF Benevolent Fund
396-735: Is also the official guardian of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London. Lord Trenchard founded the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund in 1919, one year after the formation of the Royal Air Force . In its first year, welfare expenditure was £919. The first welfare assistance the RAF Benevolent Fund gave was a shilling for a night's lodging to give the recipient a chance to seek work. Other early assistance included money to provide
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#1732775625605432-427: Is distinguished from its successors by having a cowl that exposes its engine's cylinder heads — the exposed cylinders of any J-3's engine were usually fitted with sheet metal "eyebrow" air scoops to direct air over the cylinder's fins for more effective engine cooling in flight. Very few other examples exist of "flat" aircraft engine installations (as opposed to radial engines) in which the cylinder heads are exposed. From
468-460: The Ford Model T automobile . The aircraft is a high-wing , strut-braced monoplane with a large-area rectangular wing. It is most often powered by an air-cooled, flat-4 piston engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller. Its fuselage is a welded steel frame covered in fabric , seating two people in tandem . The Cub was designed as a trainer. It had great popularity in this role and as
504-548: The RAF Benevolent Fund to be raffled off. Piper distributors nationwide were encouraged to do the same. On April 29, 1941, all 48 Flitfire aircraft, one for each of the 48 states that made up the country at that time, flew into La Guardia Field for a dedication and fundraising event which included Royal Navy officers from the battleship HMS Malaya , in New York for repairs, as honored guests. At least three of
540-646: The most popular in history being the Cessna 172 , and most popular in modern history being the Cirrus SR22 and Robinson R44 . Larger light aircraft, such as twin turboprops and very light jets , are often used as business aircraft . Most floatplanes also fall into the category of light aircraft. RAF Benevolent Fund The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the Royal Air Force's leading welfare charity. It supports current and former members of
576-608: The Cub continues to be sought after by bush pilots for its short takeoff and landing ( STOL ) capabilities, as well as by recreational pilots for its nostalgia appeal. The new aircraft are actually modeled on the PA-11, though the Legend company does sell an open-cowl version with the cylinder heads exposed, like the J-3 Cub. An electrical system is standard from both manufacturers. The J-3
612-551: The Cub. In 1940, the year before the United States entered the war, 3,016 Cubs had been built. Wartime demands soon increased that production rate to one Cub being built every 20 minutes. Prior to the United States entering World War II, J-3s were part of a fund-raising program to support the United Kingdom. Billed as a Flitfire , a Piper Cub J3 bearing Royal Air Force insignia was donated by W. T. Piper and Franklin Motors to
648-686: The J-3 Cubs, designated J3C when using the Continental A series , J3F using the Franklin 4AC , and J3L with the Lycoming O-145 . Very few examples, designated J3P , were equipped with Lenape Papoose 3-cylinder radial engines . The outbreak of hostilities in Europe in 1939, along with the growing realization that the United States might soon be drawn into World War II , resulted in
684-635: The Korean War. The United States Army also operated small numbers of L-4s, but were replaced by L-16 during the war. The L-4 was in service in many of the same roles it had performed during World War II, such as artillery spotting, forward air control and reconnaissance. Some L-4s were fitted with a high-back canopy to carry a single stretcher for medical evacuation of wounded soldiers. Modernized and up-engined versions are produced by Cub Crafters of Washington and by American Legend Aircraft in Texas , as
720-466: The PA-11 on through the present Super Cub models, the cowling surrounds the cylinder heads. 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. Starting with the PA-11, as well as some L-4s, fuel was carried in wing tanks, allowing the pilot to fly solo from the front seat. The aircraft has been popular with flying schools — especially from
756-528: The RAF, their partners and families, providing practical, emotional and financial support, whenever it is needed. The Fund is committed to getting members of the RAF Family through the toughest times, whatever life may send their way. The Fund will consider any request for assistance, however big or small, providing a tailor-made approach to each individual situation. The RAF Benevolent Fund is unique in providing
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#1732775625605792-409: The U.S. were redesignated as J-3s, but often retained their wartime glazing and paint. An icon of the era and of American general aviation , the J-3 Cub has long been loved by pilots and nonpilots alike, with thousands still in use. Piper sold 19,073 J-3s between 1938 and 1947, the majority of them L-4s and other military variants. After the war, thousands of Grasshoppers were civilian-registered under
828-647: The designation J-3. Sixty-five pre-war Taylor and Piper Cubs were assembled from parts in Canada (by Cub Aircraft Corporation Ltd. ). After the war, 130 J-3C-65 models were manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario. Sixteen L-4B models, (known as the Prospector ), were later manufactured. The last J-3 model was assembled from parts at Leavens Bros. Toronto in 1952. J-3 Cubs were also assembled in Denmark and Argentina and by
864-719: The formation of the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). The Piper J-3 Cub became the primary trainer aircraft of the CPTP and played an integral role in its success, achieving legendary status. About 75% of all new pilots in the CPTP (from a total of 435,165 graduates) were trained in Cubs. By war's end, 80% of all United States military pilots had received their initial flight training in Piper Cubs. The need for new pilots created an insatiable appetite for
900-588: The hedgerow bocage country south of the invasion beaches. For these and other operations, the pilot generally carried both an observer and 25-pound (11 kg) communications radio, a load that sometimes exceeded the plane's specified gross weight. After the Allied breakout in France, L-4s were occasionally equipped with improvised racks (usually in pairs or quartets) of infantry bazookas for attacking enemy vehicles. The most famous of these unlikely ground attack planes
936-443: The letter simply followed the E, F, G and H models, with the letter "I" skipped because it could be mistaken for the numeral "1". When he saw the redesign, Taylor was so incensed that he fired Jamouneau. Piper, however, had encouraged Jamouneau's changes and hired him back. Piper then bought Taylor's share in the company, paying him $ 250 per month for three years. Although sales were initially slow, about 1,200 J-2s were produced before
972-508: The maximum gross takeoff weight for this category include the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Beechcraft B200 Super King Air . Uses include aerial surveying, such as monitoring pipelines, light cargo operations, such as "feeding" cargo hubs, and passenger operations. Light aircraft are used for marketing purposes, such as banner towing and skywriting , and flight instruction . The majority of personal aircraft are light aircraft,
1008-529: The original Flitfires have been restored to their original silver-doped finish. Minutes before the 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor , Machinist Mate 2nd Class Marcus F. Poston, a student pilot, was on a solo flight through K-T Flying Service, piloting a Piper Cub J-3 over the valley of Oahu . Poston was flying just as the Japanese planes began appearing over the island and was subsequently shot down. Poston managed to bail out and parachute to safety. The Piper J-3 Cub
1044-424: The pre-World War II existence of the Civilian Pilot Training Program using them in the United States — and remains so with private individuals, into the 21st century. Data from The Piper Cub Story General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Light aircraft A light aircraft is an aircraft that has
1080-472: The rearmost side window's shape to a smoothly curved half-oval outline and placed a steerable tailwheel at the rear end of the J-2's leaf spring-style tailskid, linked for its steering function to the lower end of the rudder with springs and lightweight chains to either end of a double-ended rudder control horn. Powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) engine, in 1938, it sold for just over $ 1,000. Several alternative air-cooled engines, typically flat-fours , powered
1116-566: The war effort as part of the newly formed Civil Air Patrol , patrolling the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast in a constant search for German U-boats and survivors of U-boat attacks. Piper developed a military variant ("All we had to do," Bill Jr. is quoted as saying, "was paint the Cub olive drab to produce a military airplane"), variously designated as the O-59 (1941), L-4 (after April 1942) and NE (U.S. Navy). The L-4 Grasshopper
Piper J-3 Cub - Misplaced Pages Continue
1152-554: Was 460 miles (740 km). On 26 June 1950, one day after the Korean War broke out, the Republic of Korea Air Force flew L-4s to Dongducheon to support the ROK 7th Infantry Division against North Korean military by dropping two bombs from an observer in the rear seat. A total of 70 bombs were dropped until the following day, then aircraft were switched back to reconnaissance mission as bombs were depleted. South Korea lost 25 L-4s throughout
1188-623: Was an L-4 named Rosie the Rocketer , piloted by Maj. Charles "Bazooka Charlie" Carpenter , whose six bazooka rocket launchers were credited with eliminating several tanks and armored cars during its wartime service, especially during the Battle of Arracourt . L-4s could also be operated from ships, using the Brodie landing system . After the war, many L-4s were sold as surplus, but a considerable number were retained in service. L-4s sold as surplus in
1224-523: Was mechanically identical to the J-3 civilian Cub, but was distinguishable by the use of a Plexiglas greenhouse skylight and rear windows for improved visibility, much like the Taylorcraft L-2 and Aeronca L-3 also in use with the US armed forces. It had accommodations for a single passenger in addition to the pilot. When carrying only the pilot, the L-4 had a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h),
1260-623: Was often referred to as a 'Cub'. The L-4 was primarily employed in World War II for artillery spotting and training liaison pilots, but short-range reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and courier or supply missions were not uncommon. During the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, the L-4's slow cruising speed and low-level maneuverability made it an ideal observation platform for spotting hidden German guns and armored vehicles waiting in ambush in
1296-536: Was the first American plane to be shot down in World War II . The Piper Cub quickly became a familiar sight. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt took a flight in a J-3 Cub, posing for a series of publicity photos to help promote the CPTP. Newsreels and newspapers of the era often featured images of wartime leaders, such as Generals Dwight Eisenhower , George Patton and George Marshall , flying around European battlefields in Piper Cubs. Civilian-owned Cubs joined
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