What is the difference between a J-3 Cub and a Super Cub?

The Piper J-3 Cub (1938–1947) was the original 65 hp Continental-powered tailwheel trainer of the late-1930s GA boom. The PA-18 Super Cub (1949–1994) is the higher-power Lycoming O-320 / O-360 development with 150 hp, a higher MTOW (1,750 lb vs 1,220 lb), and a flap-equipped wing. The Super Cub is the canonical backcountry and glider-tow utility variant; the J-3 is the lighter pure-trainer airframe of the family.

Are new Cubs still being built?

Yes — by three different manufacturers. Aviat Aircraft (Afton, Wyoming) builds the Husky line. CubCrafters (Yakima, Washington) builds the Carbon Cub SS / FX / EX variants spanning SLSA and experimental categories. American Legend Aircraft (Texas) builds Continental-powered AL3 SLSA and AL18 experimental variants. Original Piper J-3 / PA-18 production ended in 1994.

Why is the Cub used for tailwheel training?

Stick-and-rudder tailwheel handling, low stall speeds, exceptional STOL performance (200 ft takeoff roll on a Husky), tandem two-seat configuration with dual sticks, and through-window visibility have made the Cub the canonical tailwheel-endorsement training airframe for nearly 90 years. Most US tailwheel schools standardise on a Cub-family airframe (J-3, PA-18, or modern Husky / Carbon Cub) for primary tailwheel instruction.

Can the Cub run on unleaded fuel?

Variant-dependent. Lycoming O-320 and O-360 engines (PA-18 Super Cub, Aviat Husky) are on Lycoming's documented G100UL compatibility path. Continental O-200 (American Legend AL3) is similarly on Continental's compatibility list. The CubCrafters CC340 is Lycoming-derived. The Cub family broadly has a manufacturer-supported pathway off 100LL once G100UL supply becomes regional.

Piper / CubCrafters / American Legend / Aviat

Cub family (J-3 / Super Cub / Carbon Cub / Husky)

Single-engine pistonPrimary trainerPre-1980 classicin production

Power: 150 hp
Cruise: 100 kt
MTOW: 1,750 lb
Range: 460 nm
Fuel: 100LL avgas

Reference data only — never for flight planning or operational use.

This entry is a fleet-research reference for flight school operators. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook), the manufacturer's latest service documents, and the relevant FAA / EASA TCDS for any operational decision — flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, regulatory compliance, or maintenance scheduling. Numbers shown here are POH-typical for the family's representative variant under standard conditions and are not a substitute for type- and airframe-specific data.

Editorial confidence: High confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

3 primary sources cited (POH / TCDS / type-club). Spec data and regulatory positioning are well-attributed; narrative synthesis is editorial.

View 3 disclaimers specific to this entry

Performance data
Reference data only — never use this entry for flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, or any operational decision. Numbers shown are POH-typical for the family's representative variant and standard conditions. Real-world numbers vary by airframe age, weight, density altitude, engine condition, and configuration. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH and the manufacturer's latest service documents.
Cost data
Cost ranges are illustrative reference figures for fleet planning. Actual acquisition, rental, and operating costs vary substantially by region, airframe age, engine and avionics generation, and local market conditions. Numbers should be validated against current quotes from local brokers, schools, and maintenance providers before any commercial decision.
Operator list
Operator lists capture schools and programmes we know to fly the type at scale. Lists are not exhaustive, may include operators that have changed fleets since publication, and should be treated as starting points for verification rather than current customer lists.

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)100 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)132 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)39 kt
Climb rate960 fpm
Service ceiling18,000 ft
Range460 nm
Endurance4 h
Takeoff roll200 ft
Landing roll350 ft

Weights

MTOW1,750 lb
Empty weight950 lb
Useful load800 lb
Baggage capacity50 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan35.3 ft
Length22.6 ft
Height6.7 ft
Cabin width24 in

Powerplant

EngineLycoming O-320 / O-360 — 150 hp · 100LL · 8 gph
Total horsepower150 hp
Primary fuel100LL avgas
Unleaded pathG100UL eligible (STC available)

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeanalog
Autopilot commonly availableNo
Typical packages
- Six-pack analog with single nav/com— as-delivered
- Garmin G3X Touch / Dynon SkyView retrofits— modern retrofit on Husky and Carbon Cub fleets

Certification

RegulatoryFAR Part 23 (CAR 3 origin) · FAR Part 21 LSA (modern variants)
Certified rolesNormal category · Utility category
IFRNo
Spin approvedYes
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelYes
Complex (FAR 61.31)No
High-performance (FAR 61.31)No

Why is the Cub family (J-3 / Super Cub / Carbon Cub / Husky) popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Industry network effects

The Cub line is the cultural anchor of US tailwheel and backcountry flying; the J-3, Super Cub, and modern Carbon Cub / Husky form the canonical airframe ecosystem at backcountry-flying schools, glider operators, and STOL clubs.

Pedagogy and handling

Stick-and-rudder tailwheel handling, exceptional STOL performance, and tandem-seating with through-window visibility have made the Cub the standard tailwheel-endorsement and bush-flying training airframe for over 80 years.

Production volume

Approximately 30,000 J-3 / PA-18 / Husky / Carbon Cub airframes built across the broader Cub family — the cumulative production is concentrated in the original Piper variants but modern production at Aviat, CubCrafters, and American Legend keeps new airframes available today.

Regulatory fit

Modern Cub variants span both FAR Part 23 (Aviat Husky, CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX) and FAR Part 21 LSA (Carbon Cub SS, American Legend AL3) certification regimes, supporting both PPL and sport-pilot training pipelines.

Fuel future-proofing

Lycoming O-320 / O-360 (Super Cub, Husky) and Continental O-200 (American Legend AL3) are on documented G100UL compatibility paths; the type's pathway off 100LL is supported by manufacturer engine-list positioning.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

Schools running Cub fleets typically configure them in Aviatize as tailwheel-endorsement and backcountry / STOL-training airframes. Engine reserves track against the Lycoming O-320 / O-360 (Super Cub / Husky) or Continental O-200 (American Legend) TBO; fabric-inspection cycles are tracked as separate maintenance items. Tailwheel endorsement requirements modelled as per-pilot validation rules.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebilling

Sources

Provenance for the data on this entry. Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviat Aircraft
https://www.aviataircraft.com/aircraft/husky
Aviat Aircraft Husky product page.
Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
CubCrafters
https://cubcrafters.com/
CubCrafters Carbon Cub product pages.
Primary sourceType Club·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Cub Club
https://www.cubclub.org/
Cub Club — type-club coverage of the J-3, Super Cub, and broader Cub family.
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

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