General Aviation

Piper Aircraft J3c-65

Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft

The Piper J‑3 Cub is an American light aircraft produced from 1938 to 1947. It is a high‑wing, strut‑braced monoplane with a large rectangular wing and a welded steel‑frame fuselage covered in fabric. Powered by an air‑cooled flat‑4 piston engine and a fixed‑pitch propeller, it seats two in tandem. Its simple, lightweight design gives excellent low‑speed handling and short‑field performance.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
piper-aircraft-j3c-65
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
3,191
Example Registration
N100

Specifications

Wingspan
10.74 m / 35 ft
Length
6.83 m / 22 ft
Height
2.03 m / 6 ft
Max Speed
140 km/h / 87 mph
Cruise Speed
121 km/h / 75 mph
Range
354 km / 191 nmi
Ceiling
3500 m / 11500 ft
First Flight
1938
Production Start
1938
Production End
1947
Total Built
19888

Aircraft Overview

History

The J‑3 Cub was built between 1938 and 1947, with 19,073 units sold. During World War II it was produced in large numbers as the L‑4 Grasshopper, a military liaison and reconnaissance aircraft. It became the primary trainer of the Civilian Pilot Training Program, training about 75 % of all new pilots in the program and 80 % of U.S. military pilots by war’s end. Production peaked at one aircraft every 20 minutes during the war.

Design

The Cub’s design is simple and lightweight. It features a high‑wing, strut‑braced configuration with a large rectangular wing. The fuselage is a welded steel frame covered in fabric, seating two in tandem. It is powered by an air‑cooled flat‑4 piston engine driving a fixed‑pitch propeller. The engine cowling exposes the cylinder heads, often with sheet‑metal “eyebrow” scoops for cooling, and the tailwheel is steerable.

Variants

Civil variants include the J‑3C‑40, J‑3C‑50, J‑3C‑65, J‑3F‑50, J‑3F‑60, J‑3F‑65, J‑3L, J‑3P, J‑3R, J‑3X and the Canadian L‑4B Prospector. Military variants were the YO‑59, O‑59, L‑4A, L‑4B, L‑4C, L‑4D, L‑4H, L‑4J, NE‑1, NE‑2 and the L‑4 Grasshopper, which added a Plexiglas greenhouse and rear windows for better visibility.

Operations

The Cub was used as a primary trainer in the Civilian Pilot Training Program and as a general‑aviation aircraft. In World War II it served as the L‑4 Grasshopper for reconnaissance, liaison, artillery spotting, medical evacuation and courier missions. It was also used by the Civil Air Patrol to patrol for U‑boats. Today, many Cubs fly in bush operations and recreational flying, and modernized versions are produced by Cub Crafters and American Legend.

Notable Facts

  • The J‑3 Cub was the first American aircraft shot down in World War II.
  • Over 20,000 J‑3 Cubs were built in the United States.
  • The standard paint color, “Cub Yellow,” is also called “Lock Haven Yellow.”
  • The L‑4 Grasshopper version added a Plexiglas greenhouse for better visibility.
  • The Civilian Pilot Training Program trained about 75 % of its pilots in J‑3 Cubs.
  • The Cub was used by Eleanor Roosevelt for a publicity flight.
  • During the Korean War, U.S. L‑4s dropped bombs and performed reconnaissance.
  • Modern Cubs are produced by Cub Crafters and American Legend.

Variants

  • J3C-65- 3,191 registrations - Example N100

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources