Piper Aircraft

Of all the planes developed and sold during Piper Aircraft's long history, perhaps one of the best known is the Piper Super Cub. Many find it very difficult to think of the Piper name without the Super Cub attached. This lightweight training plane began its production in the late 1940s and continued in manufacture until the 1990s. Still quite popular today, this little plane's four-decade history included a lot of changes, but quality and affordability never wavered.

The Piper Super Cub grew out of Piper's earlier Cub line. The super itself is said to have been inspired by the PA-14 family cruiser. The new super plane took to the air for the first time in 1949 and began delivery that same year. The plane replaced the Cub Special in Piper's line.

The Super Cub itself remained a strong feature of the Piper line for quite some time. From its initial launch until 1981, Piper built more than 7,000 Super Cubs. After 1981, this model was built for WTA, who then owned the marketing and manufacturing rights on the plane. By 1988, Piper regained the Super Cub and continued its production.

After the 1980s, the Piper Super Cub sputtered into and out of production. The line was discontinued in 1992, but picked up again in 1993. By 1995, the model was officially off the line.

Although the Piper Super Cub is not part of the New Piper Aircraft line, these planes are still accessible and many remain in the air. All told, it is estimated that Piper built more than 10,000 Super Cubs between the initial 1949 launch and 1994.

Many different models of the Piper Super Cub were created during its long run. With each new rendition, Piper upgraded and tweaked the initial design, offering pilots and other buyers more bang for their buck.

The Piper Super Cub was and still is known as a functional, working plane. They have been used by the military for liaison aircraft, as bush planes, for trainers and even as crop dusters and sprayers. Super Cubs are noted for being reworked and retooled for a variety of different uses.

Arguably one of the most famous planes in this company's history, the Piper Super Cub is considered somewhat legendary today. The Super Cub does not grace the production line any longer, but it does remain a strong part of Piper's personal history and that of aviation as a whole.

Piper Aircraft |