Piper Aircraft

Of all the aircraft that the Piper Aircraft Company has produced over the years, there are perhaps none that can surpass the Piper PA-18 in terms of versatility and popularity. This outstanding example of utility light craft enjoyed an unusually long manufacturing period, stretching over four decades. In this article, we'll discover the origins, the vast number of uses and the availability today of the Piper PA-18.

The last of the Piper airplanes to carry the designation of "Cub," the Piper PA-18, or, as it is more commonly referred, the Super Cub, first hit the skies in 1949. The Super Cub was a natural extension of Piper's first airplane, the famous J-3, combining the two-seater configuration found in its famous predecessor and the slightly larger frame of the PA-14 Family Cruiser, a four-seater which also preceded it. At the end of 1949, production on the Piper PA-18 began in earnest, replacing the PA-11 Cub Special on the factory floor.

The Piper PA-18 became wildly popular among bush pilots, those who tow banners and gliders and agricultural pilots, thanks to a more powerful engine and high-lift wings, making this plane a wonderful choice for landing and taking off in short fields. The agriculture pilots liked the plane so much that Piper created a special agricultural plane, the Piper PA-18A, which had the capability of applying both dry and liquid chemicals on fields. Thanks to its excellent short field capabilities, this plane was also very popular as both a ski plane and a floatplane.

Thanks to its outstanding versatility, it should come as no surprise that the Piper PA-18 enjoyed an amazing 32 year production run without interruption. When the Piper Aircraft Company closed shop in Pennsylvania, production on the Super Cub ended as well, but popular demand saw a return in 1988, after the company had relocated to Vero Beach, Florida. This time, however, production on the Piper PA-18 would only run for a limited time, and the last Super Cubs rolled off the production line in 1994.

However, all is not lost for those that are interested in these versatile planes! Many of the Super Cubs are still in use today, and there are many clubs where pilots and interested enthusiasts can gather to admire and share their knowledge about the Piper PA-18. Thanks to the efforts of these supporters and admirers, the Piper PA-18 will be flying for many years to come.

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