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 is a legendary and enduring backcountry aircraft, celebrated for its exceptional short-field performance and rugged utility in challenging environments.
Its versatility is significantly enhanced by various adaptations, including large "tundra" tires for rough terrain, floats for water landings, and skis for snow, enabling access to diverse and remote locations.
Evolving from earlier designs with increased power and features, the Super Cubs continue to be popular and have profoundly influenced a generation of modern backcountry aircraft designers.

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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