Piper PA-18
The Piper PA-18 Super Cub was originally a military school and reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft Corporation, which was produced from the 1949 series. It is the successor of the Piper J- 3, as this is a taildragger and sees this also quite similar, although the design is very different from its predecessor. The first flight took place on 23 November 1949.
It was originally developed for a tender of the U.S. Army as a Piper PA- 19 from the PA -11 Cub Special. It made its first flight in January 1949 by the end of the PA - 19 were 3 piece built, before going for the subsequent series production -. Was renamed in PA-18 - as identical construction.
After the closure of the factory in Lock Haven in 1984, the PA-18 was built from 1987 again in Vero Beach. To avoid the labor-intensive assembly, the PA-18 was last manufactured only as a kit.
With over 40,000 aircraft built the Piper Cub models in their class the most built aircraft worldwide.
Construction
The wings remain, including the frames made of aluminum profiles. The hull was compared to the J-3 amplified and adapted to the higher loads.
The two-seater aircraft was delivered in a variety of engines, originally with the Continental C-90 as " PA 18-95 Cub ". Later versions came with Lycoming engines of 105-150 hp. The models with over 125 hp possessed flaps and an enlarged tail.
The original PA-18 still did not have its own power supply. The necessary power for the radio could be won only through a small, propeller driven by a gear on the generator. Later, generators and batteries were often retrofitted, which could be set with an electric starter in gear, the PA-18.
Use
Great popularity enjoyed the aircraft at European military; it was a cost-effective aircraft for pilot training. Numerous aircraft were exported to Europe, mainly the Benelux countries and Germany, shipped. The PA -18 trainer aircraft in the Bundeswehr were equipped with couplings for glider towing. The L -18C (PA -18 ) were used from 1956 to 1978 / March 1980 in the German army. The Air Force received 39 machines plus 1 damaged from USAF stocks.
In the U.S. Army the " Super Cub " in the system in force from 1942 to 1962 carried the designations L -18 and L- 21st The machines used by the German army came from the production of the series L- 18C.
The PA-18 enjoys great popularity today. Thus one encounters many smaller airfields in Europe Cubs and Super Cubs. Widely used here are the variants PA-18 -95 and PA-18 -150 ( 150 hp). Became known for the PA-18 in Germany by the aircraft of the Burda season in the 1960s.
Since February 2011, the cultivation of RF8001 electrohydraulic ski to the Super Cub from the Federal Aviation Authority under the EMZ SA1449 is approved. Thus, the Super Cub is one of the best glacier aircraft. With retracted Ski has so still a very good ground clearance to operate from grass courts.
Military user
- Belgium
- Germany Germany
- Iran Iran
- Israel Israel
- Italy Italy
- Netherlands The Netherlands
- Nicaragua Nicaragua
- Japan Japan
- Norway Norway
- Austria Austria
- Portugal
- Sweden Sweden
- Switzerland Switzerland: 4
- Turkey Turkey
- Uganda Uganda
- United States United States