Piper Aircraft

Among the thousands of vintage airplanes still in use today, one small plane holds a special place in the hearts of many pilots and airplane enthusiasts alike. As American as apple pie, these tiny powerhouses prepared pilots at the dawn of World War II and are still being flown today. In this article, we'll discuss the origins and the important contributions the Piper J-3 Cub made to the American World War II effort, as well as its continued popularity.

The Piper J-3 Cub's predecessor was the Taylor E-2 Cub, manufactured by the Taylor Aircraft Company, of which William T. Piper was a large investor. In 1936, engineer Walter Jamouneau made significant changes to the Cub's design. His first effort would be called the J-2. This simple act provoked the great shake up which resulted in Piper taking full control of the company, changing its name to the Piper Aircraft Company. When the company relocated to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Jamouneau made further design changes, resulting in the Piper J-3 Cub.

The small, two-seater planes were affordable, selling for just over $1,000, and featured tandem seating, with the pilot and passenger sitting one in front of the other. One thing that made this plane stand out is that solo pilots had to sit in the back seat, often reserved to passengers, in order to maintain the proper balance of the plane. This was changed for future models of the Cub. Traditionally painted in bright yellow, often called "Cab yellow" or "Lock Haven" yellow, the color scheme would soon change with the outbreak of war.

By 1939, hostilities were breaking out in Europe and it became clearer that the United States would soon have to enter the war. The Civilian Pilot Training Program was created, and thanks to its affordability and simplicity, the Piper J-3 Cub became the most used aircraft for training. By the end of the Word War II, over 80 percent of pilots had been trained in a J-3, and their usefulness went beyond training. Outfitted with Plexiglass windows and green war paint, these planes went into battle as well, patrolling the skies, delivering supplies or even participating in dogfights.

Although production stopped on the Piper J-3 Cub in 1947, it is still very popular today, with thousands still taking to the skies. Some have even been modernized with updated engines, but most still exhibit the traditional Lock Haven yellow or the drab green it bore during the war. The are many clubs in the United States and beyond where pilots, history buffs and lovers of the Piper J-3 Cub can gather and fly these amazing American icons.