Piper PA-18 Super Cub

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PA-18 Super Cub
Piper Super Cub 1 1998-07-07.jpg
PA-18-150 "Super Cub" floatplane at Tinney Cove (Bathurst Inlet)
Role Light utility aircraft
Manufacturer Piper Aircraft
First flight 1949
Introduction 1949
Produced 1949-1983; 1988-1994
Number built 15000
Developed from Piper PA-11

The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. 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 1930s. 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.

Design and development

While based on the design of the earlier Cubs, the addition of an electrical system, flaps (3 notches), and a considerably more powerful engine (150 hp), make it a very different flying experience. Although the "standard" Super Cub was fitted with a 150-horsepower (112 kW) Lycoming engine, it is not uncommon to see them equipped with a 160-horsepower O-320-B2B, or even 180 horsepower (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 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.

File:Piper.cub.750pix.jpg
PA-18 Super Cub 150 (G-HACK) at the Great Vintage Fly-In Weekend, Kemble, England, in May 2003

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 90 hp Continental variant 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. The first Super Cubs were going to be offered with a unique four-wheel tandem main landing gear designed for landing and takeoff from rough terrain, but eventually a simpler and lighter two-wheel unit replaced the four-wheel design.[1][2] The O-290 Lycoming powered Cubs (135 hp) followed and would take off in about 200 feet (61 m). The landing distance remained the same at about 400 feet (120 m), or 300 feet (91 m) using flaps. With the use of the Lycoming O-320 at 150–160 hp, the Cub's allowable gross weight increased to 1,750 lb while retaining the capability of a mere 200 feet (61 m) required for takeoff.

The PA-18 has developed a very dedicated following in the bush-flying community, and many modifications have been developed for it, to the point where it is quite rare to find an original, completely stock Super Cub. Modifications include extended baggage compartments (reaching farther back into the fuselage, or even two-level baggage compartments in the top and bottom of the rear fuselage), external luggage pods, fuel pods, lumber racks for carrying construction materials into unimproved bush runways. Also the removal of header tanks, larger 24 or even 30 gallon wing fuel tanks, extended main landing gear for better ground clearance of the propeller, strengthened tailwheel springs, the addition of a small third passenger seat in the luggage area and lightweight generators and starters. Also various different mount areas for the battery (to move the weight forward, and reduce tail weight to shorten takeoff distance), various different tailfin shapes to increase surface area, lengthened flaps, various wingtip designs, vortex generators on the leading edge of the wings, movement of the electrical panel from the right wing root to the dashboard to reduce fire hazard during a crash, and even the addition of a constant-speed propeller. Above all, the most common modification is the addition of "bush wheels", large, soft, low pressure balloon-tires designed to absorb impacts from rocks and boulders, and to not sink into sand or other soft surfaces, ideal for off-runway landings.

Variants

PA-18 Super Cub
Prototype and production variant powered by a 95 hp Continental C-90-8F piston engine, sometimes known as the PA-18-95.[3]
PA-18-105 Super Cub
Production variant fitted with a 105 hp Lycoming O-235-C1 piston engine and larger tailplane.[3]
PA-18-105 Special
Special variant built in 1952 and 1953 for the Civil Air Patrol as a trainer with horn-balanced elevators and provision for seat parachutes.[3]
PA-18-125 Super Cub
Variant to replace the PA-18-95 with flaps and horn-balanced elevators and a 125 hp Lycoming O-290-D piston engine and either or a metal controllable-pitch propeller.[3]
PA-18-135 Super Cub
Variant with a 135 hp Lycoming O-290-D piston engine and fitted with two wing tanks as standard.[3]
File:9A-DBS, a Piper Cub with no military history.jpg
PA-18-150
PA-18-150 Super Cub
1954 variant with a 150 hp Lycoming O-320.[3]
PA-18-180 Super Cub
Experimental variant with a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine, one built in 1980 by Piper.[3] Other aircraft have been re-engined under a Supplemental Type Certificate.[4]
PA-18A
Designation for production agricultural aircraft, including cropdusters and sprayer variants and incorporating a slightly different rear fuselage profile to allow fitting of a hopper-tank in the rear seat position.[3]
PA-18S
Designation for production aircraft fitted with floats.[3]
PA-18AS
Designation of a small number of agricultural aircraft fitted with floats.[3]
PA-19 Super Cub
Original designation of the military variant of the PA-18, only three built and all subsequent military production were designated as PA-18s.[3]

Military designations

L-18C Super Cub
Military designation of the PA-18 Super Cub for the United States Army, powered by a 95 hp (71 kW) Continental C90-8F piston engine, 838 delivered, at least 156 of which were delivered to other nations under MDAP.[5]
YL-21 Super Cub
Two Super Cub 135s for evaluation by the United States Army.[6]
L-21A Super Cub
Military designation of the Super Cub 125, powered by a 125 hp (92 kW) Avco Lycoming 0-290-II piston engine, 150 delivered.[6]
L-21B Super Cub
Military designation of the Super Cub 135, powered by a 135 hp (101 kW) Avco Lycoming 0-290-D2 piston engine, 584 delivered many to other nations under MDAP, re-designated U-7A in 1962.[6]
TL-21A
A number of L-21As were converted into training aircraft.
U-7A Super Cub
1962 redesignation of the L-21B.[6]

Operators

Military operators

 Austria
 Belgium
 Germany
 Iran
 Italy
 Israel
 Katanga
  • Force Aérienne Katangaise[8]
 Netherlands
 Nicaragua
 Japan
 Norway
 Portugal
 Sweden
 Turkey
USFWS Super Cub, used for law enforcement in Alaska. 1970 Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub C/N 18-8898
 Uganda
 Uruguay
 United States

Civilian Users

 United States
 South Africa

Specifications (PA-18-150 landplane)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 [9]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ "Steep Climbing Air Horse For Farmers." Popular Mechanics, September 1950, p. 156.
  2. ↑ On a taildragger, the optional Whitaker tandem main landing gear was difficult to steer on a paved surface, whereas two large balloon tires provide maneuverability comparable to standard tires while still providing the flotation required on soft surfaces.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Peperell 1987, pp. 69-78
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Andrade 1979, p. 131
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Andrade 1979, p. 134
  7. ↑ (Italian) ANAE; La nostra storia
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Taylor 1976, pp. 347–348.
  • John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9
  • Peperell, Roger W. and Colin M. Smith. Piper Aircraft and their forerunners. Tonbridge, Kent, England:Air-Britain, 1987, ISBN 0-85130-149-5
  • Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976, ISBN 0-354-00538-3.

External links

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