Piper J-3 Cub

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_J-3_Cub

The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1937 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 one of the best known light aircraft of all time. The Cub's simplicity,
affordability and popularity — as well as its large production numbers, with
nearly 20,000 built in the United States — invokes comparisons to the Ford Model
T automobile.

The Cub was originally intended as a trainer, and saw great popularity in this
role and as a general aviation aircraft. Due to its performance, it was well
suited a variety of military uses such as reconnaissance, liaison and ground
control, and was produced in large numbers during the Second World War as the
L-4 Grasshopper. Large numbers of Cubs are still flying today. Notably Cubs are
highly prized as bush aircraft.

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

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 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. 75 percent of all new
pilots in the CPTP (from a total of 435,165 graduates) were trained in Cubs.

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"),[5]
variously designated as the O-59 (1941), L-4 (after April 1942), and NE (U.S.
Navy). The L-4 Grasshopper 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. Carrying a single pilot and no passenger,
the L-4 had a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h), 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,[16] and a range of 225 mi (362 km).[17]
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.

Modernized and up-engined versions are produced today by Cub Crafters of
Washington and by American Legend Aircraft in Texas, as the Cub continues to be
sought after by bush pilots for its STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing)
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 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. There are very few other
examples of "flat" aircraft engine installations (as opposed to radial engines)
in which the cylinder heads are exposed. From the PA-11 on through the present
Super Cub models, the cowling surrounds the cylinder heads.[24]

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, and some L-4s, fuel was carried in wing
tanks, allowing the pilot to fly solo from the front seat.


Specifications (J3C-65 Cub)

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-65-8 air-cooled horizontally opposed four
cylinder, 65 hp (48 kW) at 2,350 rpm

Performance
Maximum speed: 76 kn (87 mph, 140 km/h)
Cruise speed: 65 kn (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)

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