Piper J-5 Cub Cruiser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_J-5

The Piper J-5 'Cub Cruiser' was a larger, more powerful version of the basic
Piper J-3 Cub. It was designed just two years after the J-3 Cub, and differed by
having a wider fuselage with the pilot sitting in the front seat and two
passengers sitting in the rear seat. Equipped with a 75-hp Continental engine
the plane's cruising speed was 75 mph. Though officially a three-seater, it
would be more accurately described as a "two-and-a-half-seater", as two adults
would find themselves quite cramped in wider rear seat. The Cruiser sold for
$1,995 when it was first designed.

Production of the three models of the J-5 (-A, -B, -C), fall into two categories
that differ considerably. The obvious difference can be seen in the landing
gear. Early versions, of which 783 were built between 1940 and early 1942, have
external bungees. Those built from 1944 to 1946 included design changes
developed for the United States Navy HE-1 flying ambulance, and these models
have internal bungees. Currently over 500 J-5s remain on the FAA registry.


Role
Multipurpose light civil aircraft

Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft

First flight
July 1939

Produced
1940-1946

Number built
1,507

Unit cost

US$1,995 (1947)


Variants
Piper J-3
Piper PA-12

Throughout World War II, Piper modified the basic structure of the J-5A. The
J-5B had a 75 h.p. Lycoming GO-145-C2 engine. The later J-5C also built as the
HE-1 (later AE-1) ambulance for the U.S. Navy with rear hinged fuselage decking,
used the fully cowled 100 h.p. Lycoming Military O-235-2 or Civilian O-235-B
engine with an electrical system, and redesigned landing gear.

Piper J-5A Cub Cruiser with wing endplates and banner-towing gear at North Perry
airport, Florida, in March 1987
After the war, Piper dropped the J- designation system in exchange for the PA-
system, and the J-5C became the PA-12 "Super Cruiser". The Super Cruiser was
more popular than the basic J-5A, with 3,759 being built.

Piper also produced a four-seat variant of the Super Cruiser with a 115-hp
engine. It was designated the PA-14 Family Cruiser. It was the least successful
of the three Cruiser designs in terms of aircraft sold, with 238 being built in
1948/49, and only about one hundred remain in existence.

Specifications (J-5)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: two passengers
Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Empty weight: 830 lb (376 kg)
Gross weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming GO-145-C2 four cylinder, horizontally-opposed aircraft
engine, 75 hp (56 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance
Maximum speed: 96 mph (154 km/h; 83 kn)
Cruise speed: 86 mph (138 km/h; 75 kn)
Stall speed: 42 mph (68 km/h; 36 kn)
Range: 430 mi (374 nmi; 692 km)
Service ceiling: 10,200 ft (3,100 m)
Rate of climb: 460 ft/min (2.3 m/s)



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