| For years, until the 1960's, whenever someone saw a | | | | an increase in useful load to 820 lbs. It also meant |
| single-engine airplane overhead they invariably | | | | higher fuel consumption, and the fuel was moved to |
| referred to it as a "Piper Cub." To many the name | | | | two tanks in the wing roots. |
| was synonymous for "airplane." The Cub is often | | | | This extra horsepower had several desirable effects |
| referred to as the aeronautic equivalent of the Ford | | | | on performance. The cruise speed increased |
| Model T, and this is not far from the truth. In the | | | | significantly, from 65 knots to 100, and the service |
| post-war era, though, the J-3 Cub lacked the extra | | | | ceiling went up to 19,500 feet. This 7,500 foot |
| oomph needed to serve in its natural environment: | | | | increase in ceiling made the aircraft more useful in the |
| the unimproved airstrip. So Piper considered their | | | | west, where mountain passes can be as high as two |
| options, and, with an army of engineers, came up | | | | miles. Takeoff roll was now reduced to a mere 200 |
| with the Piper Super Cub. | | | | feet, and the steep climb-out enabled the aircraft to |
| The Piper Super Cub addressed the shortcomings of | | | | depart from almost any improvised runway. Landing |
| the old J-3 Cub in a fashion that was analogous to | | | | speed had increased with the additional weight, |
| Ford's improvement of the Model A with the Deuce | | | | though, making approaches to very short fields a |
| V8. Payload capacity of the J-3 Cub was marginal at | | | | problem. The solution was simple: flaps. Initially a very |
| around 450 lbs. including fuel, and it couldn't carry | | | | simple flap was fitted to the rear spar behind the fuel |
| much fuel in the small header tank anyway. The Piper | | | | tanks. Acting primarily as an air-brake, it allowed the |
| Super Cub was given a much larger engine: first a | | | | plane to make very steep approaches at low speeds. |
| 90HP Continental, then the newer four cylinder | | | | This proved so successful that a proper flap was |
| Lycoming developed during the war. From the original | | | | fitted between the ailerons and the cabin, improving |
| 108HP mill, the Super Cub quickly progressed until it | | | | both landing and takeoff performance. |
| was fitted with the 150HP Lycoming 0-320. This gave | | | | |