Piper PA-18

Infobox Aircraft
name = PA-18 Super Cub

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caption = PA-18-150 "Super Cub" floatplane at Tinney Cove (Bathurst Inlet)
type=Light utility aircraft
manufacturer= Piper Aircraft
designer=
first flight=1949
introduced=1949
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=1949-1983; 1988-1994
number built=over 9,000
unit cost=
developed from = Piper PA-11
variants with their own articles=

The Piper PA-18 "Super Cub" is a two-seat, single-engine airplane. Introduced in 1949 by Piper Aircraft, it was developed from the Piper PA-11, and traces its lineage back through the J-3 to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930's. In close to 40 years of production, over 9,000 were built. Super Cubs are commonly found in roles such as bush flying, banner and glider towing, and other situations in which short field performance is required.

Design and development

While based on the design of the earlier Cubs, the addition of an electrical system, flaps, and a vastly more powerful engine, make it a very different flying experience. Although the "standard" Super Cub was fitted with a 150 horsepower (112 kW) Lycoming engine, it was not uncommon to see them equipped with a 180 hp (134 kW) powerplant. The high-lift wing and powerful engine made the Super Cub a prime candidate for conversion to either floatplane or skiplane. In addition, the PA-18A (an agricultural version) was produced for applying either dry chemical or liquid spray.

The Super Cub retained the basic "rag and tube" (fabric stretched over a steel tube frame) structure of the earlier J-3 Cub.

The first true "Super" Cubs had flaps, dual fuel tanks, and an O-235 Lycoming engine producing about 108 hp (115 hp for takeoff only). However, a 95 hp Continental without flaps and an optional second wing tank was available. Their empty weight was, on the average, 800-1000 pounds with a gross weight of 1,500 lb. These Cubs would take off in about 400 feet (at gross weight) and land in about 300 feet (thanks to the flaps). The Super cub is renowned for its ability to take off and land in very short distances. With a light wing loading some can take off in 50 feet and land in 30. The O-290 Lycoming powered Cubs (135 hp) followed and would take off in about 200 feet. The landing distance remained the same at about 400 feet, or 300 feet using flaps. With the use of the Lycoming O-320 at 150-160 hp, the Cub's allowable gross weight increased to around 1,700 lb while retaining the capability of a mere 200 feet for takeoff.

Military Operators

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pecifications (PA-18-150)

aircraft specifications
jet or prop?=prop
plane or copter?=plane

engine (prop)=Lycoming O-320
type of prop=flat four
number of props=1
power main=150 hp
power alt=112 kW

crew=1
capacity=2
span main=35 ft 3 in
span alt=10.74 m
length main=22 ft 7 in
length alt=6.88 m
empty weight main=983 lb
empty weight alt=446 kg
loaded weight main=1750 lb
loaded weight alt=794 kg
climb rate main=960 ft/min
ceiling main=19,000 ft
ceiling alt=5,800 m
cruise speed main=100 kts
cruise speed alt=120 mph, 180 km/h
range main=400 nmi
range alt=460 mi, 740 km

ee also

aircontent

related=
*Piper J-3

similar aircraft=
*American Champion/Bellanca Scout
*Aviat Husky
*Kitfox Series 7
*Maule M-7
*Murphy Rebel

lists=

see also=
* Cub Crafters

External links

*dmoz|Recreation/Aviation/Aircraft/Fixed_Wing/Piper/Super_Cub/
* [http://www.supercub.org/ SuperCub.Org - All Things PA-18]