I'm seriously looking at trading in my C170A for a super cub but don't know much about them. the 95 horse models seem to fit my price range and are what i have been looking at. What i don't know is what kind of performance i should expect because all the super cubs you ever see or hear about are jacked on roids. I'm not going into the boonies, or landing on gravel bars, but i would like more than J-3 performance.

Any info you guys could give me would be awsome ( and no i am not buying a maule )

My first airplane, and lightest flying Cub I've ever been in, was a 1951 PA-18 with a 108 HP O-235 stuffed in the front end. A very capable and worthy little airplane.

While a J-3 is a cute toy, and good for absolutely nothing but doing absolutely nothing (but having fun), an old Cub with flaps will do whatever mission you need to do with it. My first Alaska Highway trip was in that airplane. I flew from Fort St John, BC to Fairbanks, AK in one day. Left at 0500 and got to FAI at 2330. I don't think the old bones would tolerate that now.

But, it was not an uncomfortable trip, and once up in Barrow that airplane was a good teacher and took me everywhere I needed to go, and then some. I flew with a few of the Cub Crafters macho machines when they started to show up, and I had no problems playing with the pack, and liked how my airplane flew and felt much better than theirs. And that was on 8.50's too.

Gump

For my money, one of the best all around airplanes for what you are implying is still the old PA-12. or "FAT" Cub.

Ya gets front row seating, with elbow room, and a real door. Also a WIDE rear seat, allegedly for two. Enough panel to put some goodies in. etc.

Standard I bleieve came with 108 or 115 hp.
Good plane for camping as it has a lot more volume inside that the s-cub.

Simple to load, and hard to get our of CG.

I have time in a J-3 65 and a PA-18-95 and there is a huge difference in performance.The 95 supercub is light enough to feel like the J-3 as far as flight characteristics but the extra power gets it up and out even with two 200 lb guys and full fuel.Fuel burn will be around 5gph in cruise.It will do pretty much all the same things the higher powered cubs do just won't do it with a big load as they can.A lot of fun to fly.

If you respect a PA-18-95 for what it is you'll have a great airplane to fly. They have a very light, sweet feel to them and are more comfortable than a PA-11 and especially more so than a J-3.

I fly one now and then that has two 18 gallon tanks. With a 5 gal per hour burn you can guess what kind of range it gets if you decide to fill it up. Figure 85-90 mph.
This airplane, although usually tail-end-Charlie, plays out here in the lake country with bigger engined 18's, 12's, Citabria's and Husky's with no problem. The owner is putting it on floats this summer. (I got my float rating in a 90 hp 18 with a largish instructor and it worked just fine).

Solo it's an excellent flying machine and loaded up it will work but really beware of shorter strips with trees/obstacles on hot days. In the winter it does just fine when loaded up.

It wont be a 150 hp Cub with flaps and wont pull you out of trouble on power like a bigger engined Cub can. But if you go into the deal knowing that, then you'll have a fun and quite capable airplane. (can't beat it running around the farm with the door open)

Thanks for the responses, you guys are telling me what i was hoping to hear. I get pretty good performance out of my 170 when i'm by myself, but the real goal here is to fly around my farm in western Md. drop into a field then take back off and be able to keep the door open. Not sure my 170 fits the bill any more.

BRD wrote:It wont be a 150 hp Cub with flaps and wont pull you out of trouble on power like a bigger engined Cub can.

But, it's so much lighter on it's feet than a stock 150 HP Cub, and once you get the feel of the airplane, you'll have no trouble playing anyplace those other guys can go.

Gump

Nice Pics

I agree with your premis Gump. I see them go everywhere the big engined guys do around here. The only caveat I have to that is if it's hot and humid the thing just doesn't like to climb out loaded. So if you drop into a fairly short strip in the woods just be aware of that and have an out.

One other scenario I watched unfold the other day was of a 90hp PA-18 and a 150hp 18 departing a ski strip in a heavy crosswind. The PA-18-95 did everything right and zipped out no problemo' but the guy in the 18-150 totally screwed up and ended up going down the strip sideways facing the downwind trees...he was able to swing the nose back and hung the airplane on the prop pullling it out of what was looking like a rather nasty scenario. I was thinking that if the 90 hp airplane was in that same position it would have been a closer run thing if it was going to escape that box unscathed. (if I had my own I'd take out the electrical system and fly it lighter.)

But yeah, you're right, if you get to know that airplane and fly it light - it will take you in and out of most everywhere a big engined Cub will go. (on less gas!)

Dusty Wait,

Put a STOL kit on that bird you have, re-pitch the prop and you will have found a whole new love........

You can almost run around the ranch faster than that Cub...

Having started in an 85hp J-3 and then moving on to a PA18-150. I really wasn't blown away by the performance of the supercub. We routinely flew the J-3 with two of us 170 - 180 each (yeah I know that sounds light but it was many years and many beers ago)

You can always fly it and put the money your saving on fuel away for an engine upgrade someday...

BRD wrote: The PA-18-95 did everything right and zipped out no problemo' but the guy in the 18-150 totally screwed up and ended up going down the strip sideways facing the downwind trees.

Good pilot skills will beat extra horsepower most days.

My experience is that guys who learn in bigger engine airplanes sometimes lack the finesse that those who have grown up with gutless wonders are forced to develop. It's real easy to get ham fisted and let the engine do all the thinking for you with power. The older Cubs are like T Carts and J-3's on floats in that when it's hot and heavy, or you have a wind to deal with, you learn what the seat of your pants and feet are for. The throttle won't save you.

Gump

I've talked to guys who fly J3's fitted with 85's & 90's and they really love them. Backseat-only solo but LSA compliant, if either of those matter.

Eric

I looked at some of the up graded j-3s but they don't want much less for them than they do the super cub.

The crap of it is a j-3 would be awsome to, but my home base is inside the D.C. ADIZ so i need to have all the electrics transponders and gizmos to avoid getting shot down

Mr Scout,
Also thought about what you said but i think i'd be better off letting someone who wants a nice 170A get mine before i go messing w/ what is a really nice traveling set up.

I've found a really nice PA-18-105 special w/ a 0-235, it doesn't have flaps and i was wondering if there was any reason to hold out for a bird w/ flaps. As far as what i'm going to use it for i don't see the flaps being a requirement, but iwas just curious if i was selling out to quick.

Dusty,
Just my opinion but from several years of watching the prices on various cubs....I have observed that the small engined -18's seem to sit for sale for much longer than the 150hp models. Lack of Flaps and toe brokes also seem to be a "not so good" selling point.
Just my observation. There does seem to be a slight resurgence for some of the smaller engined Cubs though, but my guess is that is because of fuel prices.
Keith

I think you'd like the -18 - 105, especially since you're not going to be packing 800lbs off of a 400' gravel bar. You'll have a real nice flying airplane without the fuel penalty of the 150. Probably cruise just as slow, too. A guy I know in CO has one, it would outrun our PA18-125 we had at the time by a significant margin. Flaps are cool, but you don't really have to have them for just a cruiser. Cheaper to buy without flaps, maybe a tad harder to sell, though.

Neat thing about the small hp. Super Cub over a J3 is a higher useful, more fuel, and baggage room.

It'll do just fine for you. If I wanted a Super Cub just to cruise around with, I wouldn't hesitate.

gb

Thanks for all your input guys, I really appreciate it. I'm going to pursue this PA-18-105.

Ps: WWHunter, this particular cub actually was factory built w/ toe brakes for the C.A.P. so that is a plus.

Put up a picture if you get it. Don't see too many of the old originals.

Toe brakes, heel brakes, it really doesn't matter. Either does the same job.

gb

gbflyer wrote:Toe brakes, heel brakes, it really doesn't matter. Either does the same job.

Oh yeah, talk about some good memories. There's nothing like heel brakes in Bunny Boots at 40 below in the dark.

Gump