I am looking for information regarding Piper Super Cruisers. I have searched several different options on the Forum's search option and to my avail came up with very little.

Any how, I have been bouncing the idea of a Super Cub around in my head; but financially I just can't do a Super Cub at this time. So, I have noticed a few Super Cruiser ads on Barnstomers with the caption " Super Cub Performance". Is this a truthful statement at all? I have also read and been told that the Cruiser is a little easier to fly than a Super Cub.



So back to my reason for posting: I would like some good information and facts on the plane. What to look for before purchase, recurring issues, etc.

Rajun_Cajun wrote: I have also read and been told that the Cruiser is a little easier to fly than a Super Cub. .

There are easier planes to fly than a cub?

Blu, that's the same thing me and my dad said when someone told us that!
I was just stating what I had been told.

Generally a Super Cruiser will never be a Super Cub....you can get one to get close to the performance of a Super Cub but that will cost you lots of money. Basically you can get a decent SC for what it would cost to convert the Cruiser to Cub like performance. What the Cruiser has over the Super Cub is speed. Generally the Cruiser will be faster and the nice thing is it has more room. Unless you are doing hard core back country strips the 150-160 hp Super Cruiser will do all you want. The O-235 powered Super Cruiser is a decent plane but definitely not in the league of a Super Cub. I had looked at them pretty hard a few years back also when I couldn't afford a Super Cub. Realized my Champ with its O-235 was a much better performer than the Super Cruiser is with the same engine. All the Cruisers I looked at that had the 150-160 HP engines were much more expensive and close in price to a Super Cub. You may get lucky and come upon a 'deal' though. Of course I was looking several years back when most of these planes were selling for considerably more than they are today. SC's seem to be holding their price higher though then most other planes with the exception of Light Sport compliant planes.
Good Luck!!
Keith

Cajun,

Go to super cub.org and do a search for pa12 info. There are tons of threads over there on 12s vs 18s.

Both great airplanes, but different.

Not the least of which is that all 12s are older than all 18s.

MTV

Does the PA-12 have flaps? I dunno. Just askin'

EB

I learned to fly in a straight wing ratty looking 12 that was very light. I could get it in and out of just about any place the cub guys were landing. I then flew a modded out 12 with cuffs, 180HP, tips, fences, big tail feathers, tall gear and about 500 ounds of paint. What a PIG that bird was. Then I flew a 12 with flaps and 31" airstreaks and the only other mod was toe brakes. That bird was very nice flying! With 150 and 82X41 it will get out very close to a cub, but it has better aileron responce. The empty weight is the key. Keep it light and dont mod the hell out of it and the 12 is a nice flying bird!

My first two cubs were PA-12s with 0-320s and flaps. Those airplanes were and still are more inexpensive than a comparable PA-18... they are still, IMO, a bargain. They were great airplanes and I took them all over the back-country of Idaho and Montana. Mike is correct, you need to look closely at corrosion in the frames especially in the rear. I once asked the same performance question you are asking and received this answer which I believe to be accurate.

"A 150 hp PA-12 can do 90% of what a comparable equipped PA-18 can do..... and boy, you really shouldn't be doing that last 10% until you have several thousand hours anyway

Centmont wrote:"A 150 hp PA-12 can do 90% of what a comparable equipped PA-18 can do..... and boy, you really shouldn't be doing that last 10% until you have several thousand hours anyway

Haha. I like that.

Emory,

No, the PA 12 was not equipped with flaps from the factory. They all had a Lycoming O-235 engine, rated at 108 continuous.

MTV

mtv wrote:Emory,
No, the PA 12 was not equipped with flaps from the factory. They all had a Lycoming O-235 engine, rated at 108 continuous.

MTV

That's what I thought. Thanks. No way a flapless PA-12 will do everything a Super Cub will do. And if you doubt that, just ask a Super Cub pilot........ There I go again. Sorry sorry sorry! Anyway, for me, a Luscombe will keep me worried enough. No sense adding capability beyond that of the pilot.

Echoing the PA-12 advice above, having flown light stock 12's and heavy with all the 18 mods. Light works much better! (I'd for sure do the O-320 150-160 hp upgrade though)

Brad

I think a lot of guy's get wrapped up in the axle thinking they need a PA18 with a lot of bells and whistles. A PA12 with an O-320 and not overweight will perform well and many times the situation also depends on the experience level of the pilot. Super Cub people will always be snooty about their cubs as they have spent the time and money to get what many consider the ultimate. It all comes down to what you want to do and what you are willing to spend. Now is a good time to be an airplane buyer, the market is full of decent airplanes that are advertised for half (or less) of what it would take to build one.

Just one more thought. 3 guys in the same cub and you may get one taking off in 60', one at 150 and one at 200'. Just cause its a cub dont mean everyone can get it on and off in under 100'. I flew the ever loving piss out of the 12 with the 108 hp then later the 150. I could get out with 2 guys and full fuel at the 200' mark all day long in knee high grass. When I first started flying it, I was closer to 300-350' to get off the same "strip". Tis the same for just about all the planes out there. What you consider a dog, may shock the hell out of you in the hands of the right guy. I would not hesitate for one second to buy a 12 if its a good deal and the lower longerons are not corroded or twisted.