The NitroPlanes rc Piper J-3 Cub shown above has a 71" wingspan, is 50" long, and weighs about 5 1/2 lbs. Construction is all wood. Engines can be from .52 to .60 four stroke.
The rc Piper J-3 Cub is one of the most recognized airplanes in the world, and one of the favorites of radio control airplane modelers. The aircraft became the mainstay trainer of civilian pilots, preparing them to enter air corps service prior to World War II. As a trainer, the rc Piper J-3 Cub is simple in design. It has an extensive wing area to help make up for the lack of power of its engine. The rc Piper J-3 Cub is also a sturdy aircraft, and simple to fix. These ingredients made the actual aircraft as well as the rc Piper J-3 Cub able to survive the type of abuse it endures while under the control of novice pilots.
The rc Piper J-3 Cub (Piper L-4 ARF) from NitroPlanes. This military version of the rc Piper J-3 Cub has a wingspan of 72" and a length of 46".
It is of all wood construction with working flaps and doors. The rc Piper J-3 Cub is designed for your electric motor. Weight is around 4 1/2 lbs.
In 1941 a military version of of the Piper J-3 Cub was developed, primarily as an observation aircraft, designated the L-4 Grasshopper. It was virtually identical mechanically to the Piper J-3 Cub. It was also used as a utility and observation aircraft during the war. Some were put to service in the Korean War as well.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
Great Planes rc Piper J-3 Cub. Wingspan is 81", length is 49", weight is aro. 8 1/2 lbs., and engines can be from .40 to .46 two stroke or .48 to .70 four stroke.
Vinny Solorzano wrote to tell us about his Great Planes rc Piper J-3 Cub. He reports that the rc Piper J-3 Cub is maneuverable without being twitchy. In fact, he told us that at high cruise speed, the rc Piper J-3 Cub is as good a performer as some of the war birds in his collection. Vinny equipped his rc Piper J-3 Cub with a OS 70 four stroke engine. "You should see it climb!", he remarks. Vinny says that he is also impressed by the sound of the engine as the rc Piper J-3 Cub flies the pattern at his club airfield. He concludes that his Great Planes rc Piper J-3 Cub is a top quality model, suitable for a lazy circuit of the air field, or as a basic aerobatic model.
Goldberg has a rc Piper J-3 Cub. Their kit builds to a wingspan of 76 1/2" and length of 48". It needs a .40 engine for power. Weight is about 7 1/2 lbs.
Rich Carls writes about his rc Piper J-3 Cub from Goldberg:
"Building my Goldberg rc Piper J-3 Cub was simple. It went from the time I opened the box until its first flight in just a few nights of building.
Once lined up at the end of the runway I checked the control throws and advanced the throttle all the way. The rc Piper J-3 Cub scooted out with authority and lifted off smoothly. The climb rate is not like a fighter, but it is fast enough for most rc pilots. The OS 90 four cycle engine delivers lots of power. Once airborne, I adjusted the trim and the model flew nice and steady. The controls are smooth and the rc Piper J-3 Cub is easy to fly. I did not have to change any of the controls from their original settings.
The rc Piper J-3 Cub does require some rudder in its turns to offset the adverse yaw of its large ailerons. However, its easy to couple the rudder to the ailerons for smooth turns. I did a large loop and it looked very scale-like. The rc Piper J-3 Cub does slow a bit as it comes over the top of the loop, but still is capable of making a very round, large loop.
The rc Piper J-3 Cub even flies well inverted. If you want to impress your fellow club members, it is very capable of doing a slow, inverted fly-by, just feet over the runway. The rc Piper J-3 Cub will soon gain the confidence of its pilot, and I highly recommend it."
Thank you for filling us in about your rc Piper J-3 Cub, Rich.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
The Zhongshan Guanli rc Piper J-3 Cub has a wingspan of 37" and length of 29". Included with the RTF is a Speed 380 type motor. Weight is about 1 lb.
Hugh Stevenson emailed us this rc Piper J-3 Cub review:
"I have the Zhongshan Guanli rc Piper J-3 Cub. It is a really complete kit that is easy to put together in just a few hours. Mine came with a powerful motor, speed controller, radio, battery and everything it needs to fly.
The carton that the rc Piper J-3 Cub came in was very sturdy. All the pieces were well protected from the rigors of shipment. Looking into the carton revealed a scale model rc Piper J-3 Cub that needed very little work to get it into the air.
The first thing I did was to make sure that all of the parts of the rc Piper J-3 Cub were there. They were! Next I assembled the tail feathers of the rc Piper J-3 Cub, attaching the elevators and rudder. Although the push rods are already connected, it is best to make sure that they are working properly. After charging the radio and airplane battery, I cycled the servos. They only needed a little adjustment to center in the rc Piper J-3 Cub properly.
Next came attaching the rc Piper J-3 Cub main wing. It is held on by tabs in the front and two nylon bolts in the rear. Next I attached the rc Piper J-3 Cub wing struts that were held in place with small screws.
The large rc Piper J-3 Cub flight battery is held in place with a plastic stay. Just to insure that it wouldn't be shifting during flight, I added strips of Velcro on the battery and in the battery box.
With the rc Piper J-3 Cub flight battery in place and all the components assembled, it is time to check the balance point of the rc Cub. It should be right under the main spar of the wing and mine balanced perfectly!
The 2.4 GhZ radio that comes with the rc Piper J-3 Cub is much appreciated because, unlike the older radios, you don't have to worry is someone else is on your frequency. Properly charging the transmitter batteries takes about 12 hours the first time.
Flying the rc Piper J-3 Cub is a joy! The wheels are a little small for easy take offs from grass, but hand launching only takes a slight toss for the rc Piper J-3 Cub to be flying. We are lucky to have a smooth paved runway at our model airfield, and the rc Piper J-3 Cub took off with a roll of only a few feet.
The rc Piper J-3 Cub is surprisingly quick. If you use full throttle, it will fly at a very not scale-like high speed. Best flight is made at around 2/3 throttle. I only use full throttle for loops that can be done from level flight. The rc Piper J-3 Cub will also do some pretty nice rolls. However, due to its flat bottom wing, it is hard to maintain altitude while flying the rc Piper J-3 Cub inverted.
There are no surprises when it is time to land. The rc Piper J-3 Cub lands pretty much like the real one, nice and slow if you keep the approach speed down and cut the throttle when over the end of the runway.
In conclusion, the Zongsham rc Piper J-3 Cub is a great little scale model rc airplane. My only caution is that, because you are dealing with a company in China, don't expect any support with spare parts or anything else. You get what you pay for, and I know that getting a model without any shipping damage was a matter of luck. If you are willing to take that risk, the Zongham rc Piper J-3 Cub will get you from the shipping carton to the flying field in as long as it takes to charge the transmitter battery."
Thank you for your comprehensive review of the rc Piper J-3 Cub, Hugh. It is much appreciated.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
The Hobbyzone rc Piper J-3 Cub with a wingspan of 47 3/4" and length of 32 1/2". The RTF model includes 480 motor, radio, controller, batteries and chargers.
Landing the full scale and the rc Piper J-3 Cub in a cross wind can get interesting. The light aircraft can be blown side ways fairly easily. Being ready to apply some rudder and throttle while landing is a good idea. And, if the rc Piper J-3 Cub gets going too far sideways, it is always prudent to go around for another try.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
The rc Piper J-3 Cub from BH Models. Wingspan is 72", length is 53", and weight is around 6 lbs. Construction is balsa and ply. Engines can be .46 two cycle or .52 four cycle.
Given its low wing loading, stalling the actual as well as the rc Piper J-3 Cub is usually done purposefully. Spins are performed in slow motion. If you do force the rc Piper J-3 Cub into a stall or spin, and have sufficient altitude, just centering the controls and applying a little forward stick to pick up flying speed will get you back in control.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
A rc Piper J-3 Cub from Hangar 9. It has a 80" wingspan and a 51" length. Construction is wood throughout. Engines should be from .36 to .46 two cycle or .56 to .82 four cycle. Weight is around 7 1/2 lbs.
Flying the Piper J-3 Cub is a pleasure, especially if you leave the doors and windows open on a spring day, and like to fly low and slow. Flying solo in the Piper J-3 Cub does have its challenges. You must occupy the rear seat in order to offset the weight of the fuel in its tank up front. That means that the nose of the Piper J-3 Cub can interfere with your forward view on take off. The trick to achieving better over the nose visibility during take off is, after the tail comes up, to keep just enough forward stick to keep the nose down until sufficient speed is reached to rotate. Before the Piper J-3 Cub tail comes up, the best view is out the side window. Also, pilots used to flying other, more modern, single engine civil aircraft, will find that a bit of anticipated extra rudder will help coordinate turns and prevent side slip.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
Another rc Piper J-3 Cub from Hangar 9. The 25% scale rc Piper J-3 Cub has a wingspan that is 106", and a length that is 68". Weight is around 16 1/2 lbs. You have your choice of power for the rc Piper J-3 Cub from 1.0 to 1.6 two cycle, 1.8 four cycle, 20 to 26 cc gas engines or a Power 110 motor.
If you have a fondness for slow fliers from the earlier days of civil aviation, the rc Piper J-3 Cub will not disappoint. With its exposed cylinders, wing bracing, and tandem cockpit design, the rc Piper J-3 Cub exudes an aura of quaintness that has been misplaced among today's more utilitarian aircraft.
RC Piper J-3 Cub
Greg Covey and his rc Piper J-3 Cub . Greg's rc Piper J-3 Cub is from World Models. The 1/4 scale kit builds to a 104" wingspan and 65" length. It weighs around 16 lbs. upon completion. Greg is using motor power for his rc Piper J-3 Cub instead of an engine. It is usually powered with .90 two stroke or 1.60 four stroke engines.
SIG Mfg. has a kit of the rc Piper J-3 Cub made primarily from balsa and ply. It has a 71" wingspan and needs a .25 to .40 two cycle or .40 to .45 four cycle engine. If you are looking for a larger rc Piper J-3 Cub from SIG, you should check out the kit of their giant scale 105" wingspan model. It has a fuselage length of 67" with recommended power from .60 to .90 two cycle or .90 to 1.60 four cycle engines. Upon completion, all up weight should be from 14 to 16 lbs.
Balsa USA has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 108" wingspan and a 68" long fuselage. Engines suggested are from .60 to 1.08 two cycle or .90 to 1.20 four cycle. Ready to fly weight is from 12 to 14 lbs. The largest rc Piper J-3 Cub comes with a wingspan of 141", length of 88", and all up weight from 30 to 35 lbs. Recommended engines are from 2.0 to 4.0 or 50 cc.
Great Planes has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a wingspan of 61" and a length of 39". It weighs about 4 1/2 lbs. and needs .15 to .25 two cycle or .20 to .26 four cycle engines. Their 1/4 scale rc Piper J-3 Cub comes with a wingspan of 76 1/2". Its length is 49" and weight around 7 1/2 lbs. Engines can be from .40 to .60 two cycle or .48 to .70 four cycle. The largest kit from Great Planes for a rc Piper J-3 Cub builds to a wingspan of 90" with a length of 56 1/2" and a weight of about 12 lbs. Engine sizes range from .60 to .90 two cycle and .70 to .91 four cycle.
Parkzone has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 37" wingspan, and a 27" length. A 370 size brushless motor is included. SDM's rc Piper J-3 Cub comes with a wingspan of 37 1/2" and length of 29". It includes a 380 brushed motor. The rc Piper J-3 Cub from Goldberg is a ARF with a wingspan of 76 1/2" and length of 50". Engine choices are from .40 to .62 two cycle or .40 to .90 four cycle. Ready to fly weight should be around 7 1/2 lbs.
Electrifly has a rc Piper J-3 Cub. The kit has a wingspan of 59" with a length of 37" and weighs around 3 1/2 lbs. A Speed 600 motor is included. E-flite's rc Piper J-3 Cub comes with a 62" wingspan. Their Power 25 motor is recommended for the 4 1/4 lb. model. A larger rc Piper J-3 Club from E-flite has a 80" wingspan and weighs about 7 1/2 lbs. Engines can be from .36 to .46 two cycle or .56 to .82 four cycle. Their rc Piper J-3 Cub that is a park flyer ARF comes with a wingspan of 38". It is made entirely from balsa and weighs about 10 oz. It needs a 250 size brushless motor for power.
Kyosho's rc Piper J-3 Cub has a wingspan of 71" and a length of 47". It is made entirely from wood and weighs about 5 3/4 lbs. To power it you will need .40 2C or from .48 to .53 4C engines. The House of Balsa rc Piper J-3 Cub has a wingspan that is 52 1/2", length that is 27 1/2" and weight that is about 30 oz. You will need a geared Speed 400 motor for power. Thunder Tiger sells a rc Piper J-3 Cub. It is made from balsawood and plywood and has a wingspan of 83", a length of 78" and a weight of about 7 1/2 lbs.
There are Kit Cutters kits of the rc Piper J-3 Cub and plans with wingspans of 40", giant scale 83", 106", 108", 127" and 141". Cleveland Models has plans for the rc Piper J-3 Cub with wingspans of 13", 18", 26 1/2", 35 1/2", 53", 71" and a giant scale 106".
The AMA Plans service has plans for the rc Piper J-3 Cub from the 1/04 issue of Model Airplane News, # 17048 and Headley Plans for rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 52" wingspan. Plan # 30082. For a small rc Piper J-3 Cub there are plans from the AMA from Flyline Models. Wingspan builds to 33" # 28534. Hollinger Plans of the rc Piper J-3 Cub for sale from the AMA have a wingspan that is 50". Plan # 29385.
There are Drake Plans for a 71" wingspan rc Piper J-3 Cub by the AMA. Plan # 30934. Sterling Model Plans are available from them that build to a 54" wingspan, # 23908. The AMA's Hollinger plans produce a 70" wingspan rc Piper J-3 Cub, #25868.
If you like building from Berkeley Plans you can find those at the AMA Plans Service for a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 71" wingspan. Plan no. is 25867 and Hobby Helpers plans for a 70" wingspan rc Piper J-3 Cub are available for sale at the AMA Plans Service under # 13422.
Senye International has a rc Piper J-3 Cub. The ARF has a wingspan of 50" with a 31 1/2" length and a weight of about 37 oz. It has a glass fuse and b/u balsa wings. You will need from .15 to .25 two stroke engine power. In addition there is a 71" wingspan rc Piper J-3 Cub also available from Senye. Length is 46 1/2", weight is about 6 lbs. Engines can be from .46 to .52 two cycle.
Foshan Jun Feng Model Shop is selling a rc Piper J-3 Cub. It is made from fiberglass and plastic with a 57 1/2" wingspan and a 44" length. You will need from .40 to .56 two stroke or from .52 to .56 four stroke engines to power the approximately 5 1/4 lb. scale rc model airplane. The Shenzhen SDS Electric Co. produces a rc Piper J-3 Cub that is a ARF with a 37 1/2" wingspan, 25" length, and about 15.9 oz. all up weight. It needs Speed 400 type motor power. E-Supply International has a rc Cub Piper J-3 Cub that is a ARF that has a 49 1/2" wingspan with a 32" length and weighs about 41 oz. A .15 two stroke engine can power it.
Yongkang Fly Model Factory's rc Piper J-3 Cub has a 70" wingspan and needs from .46 to .52 two stroke engine power. Jogja RC Hobby would like to sell their rc Piper J-3 Cub. No information is provided for wingspan, length, weight, or engine requirements of the ARF. Black Horse has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 72 1/2" wingspan.
Hobby Hut RC Planes also wants to sell their rc Piper J-3 Cub. The only information that they provide is that is made from balsawood and ply. No wingspan, length, type of power, or weight is provided. Cyclone Technology has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 37 1/2" wingspan, a 25" length and a weight of about 1 lb. The ARF needs a 1600 kV motor for power.
Bill Carundle brought his brand new just completed rc Piper J-3 Cub to our last fun fly, but was unable to get its engine started. It has a 62" wingspan and a O.S. .60 FP in the nose. Better luck next time, Bill.
Al Castansky has a rc Piper J-3 Cub that he set up for extreme aerobatics. It has a clipped wing of 56" and uses .60 engine power.
Hal Stanher told us about his new rc Piper J-3 Cub at our last club meet. We hope to see it fly when the weather gets a little better. Wingspan is 44".
Steve Ericson was selling rc Piper J-3 Cub wings that he made on his foam cutting machine. Call him directly for details.
Ronnie Gizner was looking for a rc Piper J-3 Cub to use as trainer to teach his son to fly. If you have a suitable rc Piper J-3 Cub, please give Ronnie a call.
Paul Randazzo told us about his rc Piper J-3 Cub that he intends to build from a kit. It has a 60" wingspan with a length of 40". Paul intends to use a brushless motor for power.
Mike Zachs has a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 69" wingspan that is 48" long. Weight is around 4 1/2 lbs.
Al Tromby showed us a video of the maiden flight of his rc Piper J-3 Cub. It is electric powered with a 72" wingspan and 50" length that weight about 5 lbs. Nice looking airplane and great flight Al!
Our newest member, Paul Frankowski was considering buying a rc Piper J-3 Cub as his second airplane.
Vinny Gamzano built a rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 90" wingspan.
Nick Rizoni has a new rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 72" wingspan.
Dick Jensen was looking for a new fuselage for his Great Planes rc Piper J-3 Cub that is 49" long.
Gil Rizzo started building a rc Pipr J-3 Cub of his own design. It will have a wingspan of 102" and use engine power.
Chuck Devon put up his a rc Piper J-3 Cub for sale. It has a wingspan of 38" and a length of 26". Power can come from a geared Speed 600 size engine. Weight is about 2 lbs.
Bob Norcan has a video showing off his rc Piper J-3 Cub with a 60" wingspan powered by a brushless motor.
Piper J-3 Cub
