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-   -   The PA-18 Supercub - NZ Ardmore (https://www.pprune.org/pacific-general-aviation-questions/417144-pa-18-supercub-nz-ardmore.html)

cloudhigh 4th Jun 2010 03:24

The PA-18 Supercub - NZ Ardmore
 
Folks,
It has come to my attention that people are after bars on their shoulders and missing the best bits of aviation and flying itself! :ugh:
Nothing like flying a Piper Cub with the window open at 80 kts low level around some islands.
People must remember that this aircraft is a training aircraft so no it doesn't fly very fast and no it doesn't have a lot of things that modern day aircraft have and it’s because of those reasons pilots today are still being trained in it.

Must say I never knew the option was their until I started talking to people.
Well I'm here talking to you now! :ok:

If anyone wants to be given the opportunity to fly the Piper Super cub let me know.
Based at Ardmore, Auckland.
Welcome to www.flythecub.net - Home of BTU - Ardmore

j3pipercub 4th Jun 2010 04:03

80 kts is waaaaay too fast, but then again, you're flying one o'them hotted up sooper ones...

Queens Birhday weekend I'm taking a j3 on a roadtrip. I say roadtrip cos you could probably drive there faster :)

j3

Jabawocky 4th Jun 2010 04:11

I am going to do some J3ing tomorrow as well. :ok:

Aerozepplin 4th Jun 2010 04:21

Ahhhh the cub. Nothing makes me smile like a slow speed jaunt in one. Could they have made an easier plane to fly?

Anyone got some interesting comparisons with the J3 vs PA18? I've only flown the super cub, haven't plucked up the courage to ask one of the grumpy buggers who seem to own all the J3s for a ride yet.

VH-XXX 4th Jun 2010 04:35

The Cubs are really making a come-back with many a version available now including carbon fibre. The Savage Cub seems the pick of the bunch over here, nice machine and the default colour is classic yellow of course... Would be a fun little machine on floats too.

cloudhigh 4th Jun 2010 05:52

That is the problem with those planes, you can drive sometimes quicker (depending on terrain) however my car over a cub? yeah the car would be up for sale.

Must say the ye ol J3 would be interesting to have a go in!

j3pipercub 4th Jun 2010 06:25

You joining the dark side Jaba? :)

As far as PA-18 vs j3, if you want to go anywhere, take the Super cub, but if you just want to mess around and have a ball within 70NM of the airfield, go the j3. The yellow, the exposed cylinders and the hand swinging, just awesome...

PyroTek 4th Jun 2010 06:43

Just love the cub! It's almost the only thing I've been flying as of late.. the J3 type. Same on Jaba is flying tomorrow.
Very very good fun, turns a few heads also!

:ok:Pyro

Andy_RR 4th Jun 2010 06:43

I fondly remember my tailwheel endorsement time in G-BBYB at the Tiger Club, Headcorn.

I also remember discovering, whilst doing solo circuits, they lack the auto-land capability of, say, a C152... Thankfully, the only damage was to the pride and underwear.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-a...88209_2444.jpg

ah, happy days!

Biggles66 4th Jun 2010 07:00

Did my endorsement at Clacton :). Then flew my Jodel all over Europe. Bliss!

ForkTailedDrKiller 4th Jun 2010 07:31

Yes, I can see a hacksaw being taken to that funny looking nosewheel on the Retard Vehicle!

Bend the main struts forward a bit - maybe a lump of lead down the back to keep the arse down - and away you go!

Jaba, and the first tail wheel Retard Vehicle Mk10!

Dr :8

remoak 4th Jun 2010 08:59

Geez you boys and your tail wheels, I don't know... I mean, what's the point? It doesn't let you fly any faster, harder to keep control of on landing, crap visibility when taxying, worse in high winds... what's the attraction? I'm waiting for the penny to drop... so far it hasn't... AND I do have a little tailwheel time (in DC3s). That thing was a bastard to get into... but it was kinda cute I guess, and sounded pretty good at METO...

I might buy a Cub and convert it to tricycle, just for fun... I'll call it the TriPacerRacer conversion... :}

john_tullamarine 4th Jun 2010 09:55

I might buy a Cub and convert it to tricycle, just for fun

How crass can one be ?

After getting the last glass ship off .. nothing quite like soaring for a while with the engine caged on the SuperCub ...

If it's fun in a Boeing .. it's better in a Cub, even if the latter does qualify for the "if it hasn't got four hosties, it's too small ..."

remoak 4th Jun 2010 10:47


How crass can one be ?
A lot crasser than that... but I digress... :E

Come on John, you are an expert, what's the attraction? I don't get it. Is it just a romance thing? Or is it an ego thing ("I can fly tailwheels... not like your easy-peasy 152...")?

I mean nobody can seriously believe that there is any advantage to a tailwheel configuration... so why do folk go out and get taildragger endorsements?

Seriously.... not dissing backwards airplanes, just wondering what the attraction is. Maybe not getting it is an aviation stigma in itself...:E

conflict alert 4th Jun 2010 10:58


I mean nobody can seriously believe that there is any advantage to a tailwheel configuration... so why do folk go out and get taildragger endorsements?
no advantage, something that's just a bit different, of no use to you unless you are going to fly one, bit more arm and leg movement.

haughtney1 4th Jun 2010 11:11

Come on Remoak, you are just jealous mate....
I learnt to fly in a Super-Cub, probably ground loop the thing these days, mind you, it was always easier to fly with a glider attached...and dont get me started on the "pregnant" Super-Cub.

john_tullamarine 4th Jun 2010 11:52

A lot crasser than that... but I digress...

as can we all ... pass, brother.

you are an expert

not too sure about that .. however I did read a book or two on a topic or two and that seems to get me out of a few problems here and there ...

Is it just a romance thing? Or is it an ego thing

anyone can go off and buy some taildragger time and make believe play at being a Spitfire pilot .. no can't be that

nobody can seriously believe that there is any advantage to a tailwheel configuration...

So far as the configuration itself goes, outside of rough field work you probably have an argument .. and, having frightened myself witless with hidden obstructions in said rough field work .. there is an argument for staying right away from that sort of thing

However, I reckon that there is a lot of confidence building to be had in tailwheel flying. For instance, the majority of mine is either towing or, to a lesser extent, jump flying. Nothing quite so consistently a complainer as a glider pilot who doesn't get an efficient (read cheap) time to height so one learns quickly to fly the beast accurately .. and then, having used the glider to keep straight on the takeoff .. comes the problem of getting back on the ground with only yourself to defeat the crosswind ... I reckon I learnt a LOT about landing stick and rudder work in a bunch of SuperCub, Callair, and Pawnee time on towing work ... now, the Callair brings back some memories ... how we didn't manage to kill ourselves with full flap landings still amazes me. Then again, Peter F (if the memory is OK) gave me a couple of circuits in a Wittman Tailwind (or something of very similar name?) some decades ago down at Latrobe Valley .. that was a bit different and gave a whole new perspective to my thoughts on directional stability.

so why do folk go out and get taildragger endorsements? bit more arm and leg movement.

I suggest that that is the answer. A few hundred hours in suitable taildraggers and one necessarily learns a few survival skills which probably don't become apparent in the nosegear configuration. Certainly one can transfer those skills to the nose wheel Types one might get to fly...

desert goat 4th Jun 2010 12:39

True, there's no practical advantage in a taildragger- there's no practical advantage in having a motorbike over a car either, but it doesn't stop 'em being fun:cool:

spirax 4th Jun 2010 13:07

My experience would suggest that a pilot with tail-wheel time would usually have better stick and rudder skills than one that has only flown nose-wheel types. And the fun factor is significantly greater! Not to mention what it can do for the confidence..:ok::ok:

ForkTailedDrKiller 4th Jun 2010 13:27


there's no practical advantage in a taildragger
You need to get out more!

I have put taildraggers in places no trike would ever venture and seen others put them into places I would never venture!

Dr :8


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