Piper J-3 Cub
The Piper J-3 Cub is a single-engine, two-seat light aircraft of the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft Corporation. It is the precursor of the PA-18 and launched in 1938 for its maiden flight. In the years 1938 to 1947 20,057 J-3 aircraft were produced, including military liaison aircraft with the designations L -4, O -59, TG -8 and UC -83. Of the total, 150 copies of the J-3 in Canada were built.
The shoulder wing has a fixed spur wheel chassis. Overall, J-3 14,125 machines were produced under the civilian designation. It was designed by Walter Jamouneau.
The flight characteristics may be described as " good-natured " as long as you do not fly too slowly. As with most Spornradflugzeugen you need when landing a degree of tact, since this type of aircraft tends to break just when landing under crosswind influence. The surface profile of the Piper J- 3 is designed for low speeds. Therefore, the J- 3 has no flaps as opposed to the PA-18.
The engine was initially 29 kW (40 hp). This was later increased to up to 63 kW (85 hp). The airplane reached a cruising speed of about 75 mph ( 125 km / h). Only a few airworthy aircraft of this type are preserved. A copy can still be found in the Aero Club Coburg / Brandensteinsebene with the registration D - ELUM.
The Piper J -3 and L-4 served as a model for numerous other aircraft. The company Maule Air developed the design to this day consistently. With the planes of Cubcrafters, American Legend Cub and Aviat Husky Aircraft AVIAT modern derivatives can be purchased new today. The RANS S-7 Courier and the Zlin Aviation Savage are current interpretations in the form of ultra -light aircraft, what the original thought of WT Piper continues to provide an aircraft for everyone. From this perspective, the J-3 is one of the most important aircraft in aviation history, because they played a similar role for the aviation industry as the Ford Model T for the spread of the automobile.
Piper L-4
The Piper L-4 Piper or O -59 Grasshopper is a modified for military use variant of the Piper J-3 and is considered the most common type of "L" aircraft. The prefix "L" (short for "Liaison ") was the labeling for light liaison and reconnaissance planes in the USAAF. A total of 5,800 units were produced from the L -4.
The L -4 was, inter alia, in World War II used as a courier exploration and observation aircraft; He has also been used for dropping smoke bombs and laying of telecommunication cables. For this purpose, this type was compared to J-3 Piper larger windows at the sides and above the seats, in order to improve visibility, especially backwards. With the help of Brodie system, the L-4 could also be used as a reconnaissance aircraft from aboard smaller ships.
A motor-less, three-seat version of the L-4 came as a TG -8 training glider used. 253 units were built from 1942 to 1943. The name comes from the English term TG training glider.
Military user
- Royal Air Force
- United States Air Force
- United States Army
- United States Army Air Force
- United States Navy
Technical data (L -4B )
Comparable types
- United States United States: Stinson L-5