Can anything top the Piper J–3 Cub? With docile handling and an affordable price tag, this iconic tube-and-fabric taildragger produced from 1937 to 1947 taught a generation to fly. The J–3’s signature bear cub tail art and yellow paint job are instantly recognizable symbols of American flying—but a descendent of the beloved J–3 has earned a loyal following of its own.
Acolytes of the Piper PA–18 Super Cub will tell you the J–3’s big brother earns its superlative with performance, versatility, and the friendly good looks of its predecessor. While the J–3 is content to motor along behind 40 or 65 horsepower, the Super Cub bumps horsepower into the triple digits with as much as 160 horsepower—or more. Flaps and dual fuel tanks round out a package that makes the two-seater popular for backcountry flying today, decades after the last one rolled off the factory floor.
Owners can customize their Super Cubs with countless modification options, from horsepower and gross weight increases to panel upgrades. AOPA is pulling out all the stops for its own Super Cub upgrade in the AOPA Super Cub Sweepstakes. The top-of-the-line restoration will go to its new owner with wheels, floats, and skis—giving the option to swap out landing gear as the season demands. Learn more about the sweepstakes rules and how to win online.
Web: www.aopa.org/sweeps
SPEC SHEET
1952 Piper PA–18-135 Super Cub
Powerplant: Lycoming O-290-D2
Seats: 2
Length: 22 ft 7 in
Height; 6 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 35 ft 2.5 in
Empty weigh:t 895 lb
Useful load: 605 lb
Max gross weight: 1,500 lb
PERFORMANCE
Cruise speed: 96 knots
