The Piper J-3 Cub is among aviation's most iconic light planes. It is a simple, yellow aircraft that transformed flight training and helped democratize private aviation in America. From its humble beginnings to its wartime service and enduring legacy , the Cub's story is a testament to the philosophy that sometimes, less is more.
The Cub's origin in the Pennsylvania oil country The Cub's journey began not in an aircraft factory but in the oil fields of Pennsylvania. In 1931, William T. Piper, an oil businessman with no aviation experience, purchased the bankrupt Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company for a mere $761.
Piper's vision was revolutionary yet simple: create an affordable and easy-flying aircraft that would make private aviation accessible to the masses. This vision starkly contrasted the existing Taylor Brothers' Chummy, which carried a hefty $4,000 price tag. Working with C.
Gilbert Taylor, Piper began refining the design that would evolve into the J-3 Cub. The initial Taylor E-2 Cub prototype, powered by an inadequate 20-horsepower Brownbach "Tiger Kitten" engine, couldn't even get off the ground. But the "Tiger Kitten" engine inspired the "Cub" airplane name before being replaced by the 37 hp Continental A-40 horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine.
Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. The J-3 takes flight In late 1937, the definitive J-3 Cub emerged. This aircraft featured several improvements over its predecessors.