Super Cub Photo Gallery - Plane & Pilot Magazine

The J-3 Cub is a classic. The PA-18 Super Cub is downright iconic.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 11:44 AM ET

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The Piper PA-18 Super Cub has been around for almost 70 years, and while it's the current darling of a new set of backcountry flyers, it's been a staple of bush flying pretty much since the get got. Photo by Bill Brine - CC by 2.0: Flickr

Key Takeaways:

The Piper PA-18 Super Cub has been a staple of bush flying for nearly 70 years, celebrated for its ruggedness and adaptability in backcountry operations.
Its exceptional short-field performance is significantly enhanced by modifications like big tires, floats, or skis, allowing it to land and take off from diverse, rough, and otherwise inaccessible terrains.
Evolved from earlier designs with increased power and features, the Super Cub's enduring utilitarian design and innovative owner modifications continue to influence modern backcountry aircraft.

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Super Cubs weren’t born with big tires. In fact, giant round appendages like these weren’t very popular until recent decades. The tires don’t help with cruise speed at all but they transformed the rough field capabilities from really god to otherworldly. Here the big wheels are used as impromptu floats.

Photo by Bill Brine – CC by 2.0:Flickr