General Aviation

Piper Aircraft PA-18

Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft

The Piper PA‑18 Super Cub is a two‑seat, single‑engine monoplane introduced in 1949. It evolved from the PA‑11 Cub Special and the earlier J‑3 Cub, and has become a popular aircraft for short‑field operations.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
piper-pa-18
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
3,064
Example Registration
N1009A

Specifications

Wingspan
10.73 m / 35.21 ft
Length
6.88 m / 22.58 ft
Height
2.05 m / 6.71 ft
Max Speed
209 km/h / 130 mph
Cruise Speed
185 km/h / 115 mph
Range
740 km / 460 mi
Ceiling
5800 m / 19000 ft
First Flight
1949
Production Start
1949
Production End
1994
Total Built
10326

Aircraft Overview

History

Developed by Piper Aircraft, the Super Cub traces its lineage back to the Taylor E‑2 Cub of the 1930s. Production ran for nearly 40 years, with more than 10,000 units built.

Design

The Super Cub keeps the classic rag‑and‑tube construction of the J‑3 but adds an electrical system, three‑notch flaps, and a more powerful engine (typically 150 hp Lycoming O‑320). Its high‑lift wing and short‑takeoff capability make it ideal for bush flying, floatplanes, and skiplanes. Many operators modify the airframe with larger fuel tanks, extended baggage compartments, and bush wheels for rough‑terrain use.

Variants

Key variants include the PA‑18‑95 (95 hp Continental), PA‑18‑105 (105 hp Lycoming), PA‑18‑125 (125 hp Lycoming), PA‑18‑135 (135 hp), PA‑18‑150 (150 hp), PA‑18‑180 (180 hp), the agricultural PA‑18A, the float‑equipped PA‑18S, and the military PA‑19.

Operations

The Super Cub is widely used for bush flying, banner towing, glider towing, and agricultural work. Its short takeoff and landing distances allow operation from unimproved runways and remote locations.

Notable Facts

  • Over 10,000 Super Cubs were built during its 40‑year production run.
  • Introduced in 1949, it evolved from the earlier J‑3 Cub.
  • Its high‑lift wing and 150‑hp engine give a takeoff distance of just 200 ft.
  • The aircraft is commonly fitted with 'bush wheels' for rough‑terrain operations.
  • Variants include agricultural, float, and military versions.
  • The PA‑18A was used for crop dusting and liquid spray.
  • The PA‑18S and PA‑18AS are float‑equipped variants.
  • The PA‑19 was the original military designation, later replaced by PA‑18 variants.

Variants

  • PA-18-150- 2,115 registrations - Example N101EB
  • PA-18- 477 registrations - Example N1009A
  • PA-18-135- 218 registrations - Example N1012A
  • PA-18-105 SPECIAL- 97 registrations - Example N105T
  • PA-18-125- 92 registrations - Example N100SX
  • PA-18 105- 56 registrations - Example N116T
  • PA18-160- 2 registrations - Example N177SC
  • PA 18-150- 1 registrations - Example N8315M
  • PA 18-160- 1 registrations - Example N6455S
  • PA-18 SUPER CUB- 1 registrations - Example N67MV
  • PA-18-125 A1- 1 registrations - Example N13RY
  • PA-18-135 (L-21B)- 1 registrations - Example N746TJ
  • PA-18-150 Super Cub- 1 registrations - Example VH-BAN
  • PA18 REPLICA- 1 registrations - Example N88DP

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources