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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The Super Cub came about as a program evolved not into a single product but through a series of intermediate designs that feautred many of the Super’s powers. The end result, the PA-18, was a long way numerically from the J-3, but it wasn’t quite finished when it debuted in 1949. There were a few additions, including flaps and more fuel, but the big change was more power.

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