Piper PA-18

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Piper PA-18 Super Cub

Type	Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
Maiden flight	1949
Introduced	1949
Produced	1949-1983; 1988-1994
Number built	over 9,000

The Piper PA-18 "Super Cub" was a single-engine piston aircraft manufactured by Piper. In all its variants it holds a special place in the hearts of bush pilots, banner and glider tow pilots and short field enthusiasts in the western aviation world. While still based on the design of the earlier J-3 Cub, 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 hp (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 both floatplane and skiplane. In addition, an agricultural version, the PA-18A, was produced for applying either dry chemical or liquid spray.

A classic aircraft whose simplicity and performance guarantee it legendary status, the Super Cub retains the basic "rag and tube" (fabric stretched over a steel tube frame) structure of the earlier J-3 Cub.

Piper ended production of the Super Cub in 1981 but the aircraft has effectively returned to production as the newly-certified 180 hp (134 kW) Cub Crafters CC18-180 Top Cub. Additionally, other companies recognize the excellent capabilities of the design and produce similar aircraft. The best-known of these is the Aviat Husky, although several kitplanes from Kitfox, Murphy Aircraft and other manufacturers resemble the Super Cub as well in that they are STOL taildragger designs. Several companies have, over the years, offered various plans and kits based upon the Super Cub for home construction. Wag Aero currently offers one such kit of the Super Cub and J-3 Cub aircraft.

The first true "Super" Cubs had flaps, dual fuel tanks, and an O-235 Lycoming engine producing around 108 hp (115hp for takeoff only) although a 95hp Continental without flaps and an optional second wing tank was also available. Their empty weight was, on average, 80O-1000lbs with a gross weight of 1500lbs. This Cub would take off in about 400 feet at gross weight, and land in about 300 feet (thanks to the flaps.) The O-290 Lycoming (135hp) powered Cubs were next and would take off in about 200 feet, with landing distance the same at about 400 feet, or 300 feet with flaps. With the use of the Lycoming O-320 at 150-160hp the Cub's gross weight increased to around 1700lbs while retaining the mere 200 feet of takeoff run. This would be the Super Cub of legendary status: if it could land, it would almost certainly have enough room to take off again, especially if not heavily loaded.