Backcountry Pilot

[CarlTexas offline]

I was just wondering what anyone thought about the American Legend Cub. Its a remake of the Piper J3.

http://www.legend.aero/default.asp

[WWhunter offline]

CarlTexas,
Just go visit the factory...they are in your home state. Log into J3-cub.com and read some of the post on there. Several owners on that site and they all like their Legend Cub.
Keith

[mtv offline]

I've looked at them several times. The fuselage is very different than a J3 fuselage--wider, and the wing attach is more like a PA 18.

Legend airplanes are apparently heavy, though, so be careful to ask actual weights. The LSA class has a MAXIMUM empty weight, and the Legend airplanes often exceed that weight. With what's left, you won't carry much.

Workmanship looks great to me. I don't like the looks of those die spring suspensions, but other than that, looks like a great little airplane.

They also offer it in kit form, which you can build as an ELSA or as experimental. ELSA doesn't make much sense to me, so I'd consider Exp, unless you have medical issues.

MTV

[Renegade offline]

I have flown one and I can say that they are very well made. They are a learn to fly airplane or a afternoon flyer, although some people use them as a cross country airplane with great success. Just dont be in a hurry to get anywhere. They are not a backcountry rocketship or aerobatic play-thing. Just expect a j-3 with a nice bump in horsepower. It felt like they were very comfortable on the inside, and having doors on both sides was a really nice feature.

[bocephus offline]

CarlTexas,

I was researching them about 1 1/2 year ago. I called them up and they were very customer friendly. I also talked to a couple of owners that were on a J3 website. They had nothing but great things to say about the company and people.

My wife was in Texas last summer and called them up and they took her up for a demo flight. I believe they are just outside Dallas.

The bottom line for us was the cost. I believe they are about $100,000 with just the basics. If I win the Lotto...

Paul

[mtv offline]

$100,000 wont' even get you to the gas pump the first time.

Prices went UP significantly.

The promise of LSA's revitalizing the aviation industry turns out to be in error. Unless, of course, you've got a spare $150 K laying around.

Too bad.

MTV

[highlanderninerKC offline]

Try a Highlander - better $, performance and useful load.

Oh, but "some assembly required".

k

[willyb offline]

CarlTexas
I own a Legend, closed cowl 0-200 model.It has been a good experience.The airplane is well made, actually overbuilt.The Legend folks have been great to deal with.
MTV commented that they were heavy and he is correct about the very early ones.All current production airplanes are much lighter without giving up any strength.Legal useful load is an issue in LSA aircraft and the Maximum empty weight requirement limits somewhat the optional equipment you can use.
My airplane has a 75/35 seaplane prop,8.50 tires,VGs,lights,strobes,Garmin radios.I run 2550 @ 92mph and 5gal/hr.

Bill

[hotrod180 offline]

A local guy has a Legend he bought about 1-1/2 years ago, painted L4 style. Very nice airplane, the craftsmanship looked to be very good. Of course, for a hundred big ones it oughta be......

Eric

[a64pilot offline]

Nice little airplanes, but for that money you could have a 185? Definately a good 180 or 182, or dare say it, a couple of older Maule's.

[GumpAir offline]

The promise of LSA's revitalizing the aviation industry turns out to be in error.

From how I see it, the only thing LSA "revitalizes" is the ability of the affluent to continue to fly sans medicals, while in the name of "safety" those less fortunate are locked out of the air with the aircraft they can afford to buy and maintain. It's a scam.

Gump

[Zzz]

The promise of LSA's revitalizing the aviation industry turns out to be in error. Unless, of course, you've got a spare $150 K laying around.

I think in order to be revitalized, pilots have to let their perception of "what is affordable flying" be revitalized.

It's not going to be a miniature 2-seat C180 that can haul all your gear but limited to 1 pax. It's not going to be just a scaled down version of what general aviation was before the ruling. The prices certainly aren't revitalizing. How much more work does it really take to build a new 182 vs a new 172 vs a new 162 vs a Legend Cub? Probably not significantly different in man hours and total cost for the airframe and engine construction.

In my opinion, the cheapest way to fly is to build a LSA kit from the "ultralight" realm of design. Small motors, light airframes, etc. The utility of these aircraft is pretty much limited to hauling your bag of bones from Point A to...not really Point B, but rather a roundabout follow the river and look at the fields fun flight. It is a different approach to flying, and I think someone migrating to LSA has to accept that.

I can understand the reluctance to build an aircraft yourself. Many people will never even consider it, even though some of these simpler kits are very simple to build once you eliminate semi-monocoque alum construction, or composite-- and the only fabric on the aircraft is the Dacron wing sails.

The medical issue is another thing. We have lots of threads on this.

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1505

[gbflyer offline]

Why not just an old J3 or PA11? Still LSA eligible, and there are good ones around for $35 - $45K. It'll get you around the patch the same as a new Legend or Sport Cub.

gb

[bajapilot offline]

Or... How about a Rans S-7S kit for around 45K. Instead of being a tired 60-70 years old, it'll be new. Instead of swapping jugs and valves around it'll hum along for 2000 hrs while sipping around 4gph. And... it will perform like a Super Cub, some say better.

Bill

[CarlTexas offline]

Thanks everyone for your input it is greatly appreciated. I have been to their factory in Sulphur Springs which is about 1 1/2 hours east of Dallas and me and a buddy of mine got to go on a demo flight. I am considering buying one and using it for hunting and fishing out near Possum Kingdom lake. You all should check out that land out there its pretty cool. Thanks again.

CT