Piper NE Cub
The Piper J-3 Cub is one of the most iconic light aircraft ever built, its bright yellow paint scheme becoming almost as recognisable as the aircraft itself. Its simple, forgiving handling made it the standard trainer for enormous numbers of pilots, including many who went on to fly combat aircraft during the Second World War under the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Its tandem two-seat cockpit and modest engine kept it cheap to buy and fly, helping put personal aviation within reach of ordinary people for the first time. Decades after production ended, thousands remain airworthy, cherished by pilots for the pure, simple flying experience it offers.
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Did you know?
The bright yellow Piper Cub trained enormous numbers of pilots under the wartime Civilian Pilot Training Program before many flew combat aircraft.
Specifications
| Length | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| Height | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 1 |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.5 t |
| Range | 191 NM (354 km) |
| Maximum speed | 76 kt (141 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 11,500 ft (3,505 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Rate of climb | 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 220 m (722 ft) |
| Landing distance | 140 m (459 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 30 l |
| Engines | Continental A-40 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Piper NE Cub starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Piper, the NE Cub family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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