Super Cub Gallery

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

Piper PA-18
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
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The Piper PA-18 Super Cub has been a versatile and enduring bush plane for nearly 70 years, serving as a staple for backcountry flyers.
  • Renowned for its exceptional short-field capabilities, it can operate from diverse and challenging terrains—including rough fields, gravel, water, and snow—especially when equipped with specialized large tires, floats, or skis.
  • Evolving from earlier designs with increased power and ruggedness, the Super Cub's utilitarian design and operational adaptability continue to inspire modern aircraft.
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Big Tires Help with Landing

Big tires help make gravel beds into perfectly suitable landing sites. The technique is often to skim across the water surface leading up to the gravel, thereby extending the landing run and perhaps just as importantly, greatly increasing the fun quotient.

Photo by Bill Brine – CC by 2.0/Flickr

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