Warbird Information Exchange

I am looking into getting one of these aircraft and am wondering what the general opinion of them is. I love the Cub and had one of my first flights in one back in the early 90's. I since then have flown a Super Cub, and love the Cub. So what are the thoughts on these?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

For the money, you can buy better, faster airplanes - but I'm not saying that bigger and faster are always the best option. If you want a "new" Cub - it's great. We have the original Legend Combat Cub down at Cannon Field and it's a nice flying aircraft.









FYI, interestingly enough it was actually the (now deceased) owner (Alton Kenne) of our Cub who contacted with them to try and get something he could fly (LSA) that would fit in with the Squadron's mission - and that's where their "Combat Cub" began. http://www.legend.aero/options3.asp It looks like they've now found a way to incorporate the US insignia on the side. That was Alton's one biggest disappointment that he had to have the big N-numbers on the side instead of a decent looking insignia. I was at the Hondo show when the aircraft was delivered to him, and that was a special occasion. I actually flew in to the event in the squadron's J-3, so it was twice the fun.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Thank you very much Ryan. I really love the Cub. Would you go for a Legend Cub over an original Cub?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

That would depend very much on what I was using it for. If someone was going to give me an airplane that I had to use for non-commercial purposes, I'd probably pick the Legend Cub. However, if someone offered me an aircraft right now, I'd pick a standard Cub and try to make some money with it as a vintage taildragger... Another factor you should really consider is that the Legend Cub can be flown from the front seat, and I think, has a higher weight capacity. The original Cub is solo from rear seat only and is great for skinny guys like me that are less than 170 lbs.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Hmmmm......

A J3 is...well...a J3. It's the real deal. To me nothing beats the real deal.

Having said that....the Legend Cub is certified Light Sport. Although this restricts how you can use the airplane, it does give you more latitude in performing your own maintainence. Also, if a little extra room and modern conveniences appeal (ie instruments, radios, GPS, electric starter etc,) the Legend might be a better bet. Besides, it would keep all those radios and other crud out of a perfectly good J3.

I've never flown a Legend, but I've flown lots of J3s. If it were up to me I'd find a nice J3 with a 85 hp engine and stay away from the "wannabe."

However, YMMV.
Steve

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Steve
www.eaglesmereairmuseum.org
www.net2nite.com

I took a tour of the American Legend facility in Sulphur Springs Tx a couple of years ago. They make a nice airplane. Even better it is a nice NEW airplane. Buy one and you won't have to worry about parts supply or old airplane problems (cracked spars, rusted tubing, bad struts, parts availability) for a long time. Wag Aero (or Unvair?) supplies many of the parts to American Legend, so the airplane will be supportable for a long time. Of course, that has a price. A six figure price, as it turns out, plus the depreciation that comes from buying new or nearly new.

A true J-3 (or Aeronca Champ, which costs a little less) will set you back less than half the price of a Legend Cub. And it WILL have old airplane issues - 60 or 70 years of use takes a toll on an aircraft. Plus, it may come with a hard-to support engine.

One thing you should consider is how you fit the airplane. IIRC, you're a fairly big guy, so a stock Cub may not be a good fit for you. The Legend and the Aeronca Champ will probably be better.

In the end, it comes down to which airplane fits your budget and mission best.

Good luck with whatever you do.

Kyle

If a 60 yr old cub is restored RIGHT...........I believe you would NOT have old airplane issues. I bet I could restore a J-3 at half the cost of a Legend and it would be fine for many years. What it comes down to is what he wants to use it for. My personal feeling, want a J-3, buy a J-3! I will say this tho..............keep making those Legends!!!! Eventually they will need to be recovered!!!! To many A&P's in recent years have not been taught it..........I graduated in 94 and they were not teaching it then!!!! Going to be a big gap and I plan on being there to make some $$$$$.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

I hope your right about the recovering. Don't tell me I have a skill that will sometime be of value. If I could only live that long.

IMO, the issue with an older airplane is what you don't know or something that was barely OK the last time you recovered the airframe, but has gone downhill in the 20 years between coverings. For instance, steel tubing. It corrodes slowly. You can't punch test every square inch of it anyway, so even the best restorer may miss something gone bad. But even if the tubing was OK the last time the airplane was covered, it has probably gone downhill since then. In that interim period maybe the tubing has developed more internal corrosion and is now at a point where sections need to be replaced. But, hey, the covering still looks great, you're not gonna strip the thing for another 10 years, and you may learn of a problem the hard way - when a tube fails.

I have recent knowledge of two airplanes that were 15 years or so since their last cover job but which failed a corroded tube during a groundloop. Now whether the corroded tube caused the groundloop, or the groundloop caused the tube to fail, who knows, but the tubes failed in a manner that wouldn't have happened to a new tube. Heck, it might have been worse. But still, the tubes were way gone and nobody knew until they broke.

The other problem with truly old airplanes is that they have truly old engines. Certain A-65 parts are getting really tough to find these days. Oil pump gears, cylinders, etc. You won't have that problem for a long time with the 0-200 in a Leged Cub.

And why do I see things this way? Because of the Champ spread all over my basement and hangar. And the runout A-65 sitting right beside it.

Thank you guys. I have wanted my own plane forever, and I am getting close. I am getting a hangar next month!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

That's cool!

My real advice is, as someone else said above, figure out what the "mission" for the airplane is. How are you going to use it? Think it all the way through. Look carefuly at things like range, equipment useful load and operating cost, both per mile and per hour.

BTW: J3 parts are are generally not hard to find, and a nicely restored J3 is a pretty inexpensive airplane own and operate.

Steve

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Steve
www.eaglesmereairmuseum.org
www.net2nite.com

If you decide to go with the OLD J3, just don't get stuck with the thought of a Cub. There are a lot better and cheaper alternatives. Pick any Taylorcraft,Aeronca,Interstate,Rearwin, etc. with 65 h.p. and they will outperform the Cub and at a lot less money. If you have to paint it yellow but try the alternatives and the T-cart and Aeronca are also plentiful and easy to find parts. Bring on the Cub lovers but you know I'm right. And yes I have flown them all and owned most, my first plane being a Cub that I restored never understanding why it brought more money than the others.

I'd agree there are other great options. However, Mustangdriver said he wanted a Cub (or something "Cubbish.") If he wants to expand his search, I can think of lots of ways to spend his money. I'm good at figuring out how other folks should spend their money.

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Steve
www.eaglesmereairmuseum.org
www.net2nite.com

From my username you can see my bias, that said I've flown Cubs, Super Cubs, Aeronca Chiefs and Champs. I too am of ample girth, 6'3" and depending on the time period 230-245 lbs.. The 65 hp 7AC Champ has taken me with a passenger in and out of 1500' strips, on wheels and skiis. The front cockpit has excellent visibility and much easier to mount than the Cub. IMHO. There are several Aeronca type clubs and the National Aeronca Convention is in Middletown, Ohio each summer. Also if your significant other wants to look into your adoring eyes when flying, the 11AC Chief with the side-by-side seating is an option. When courting my wife, she appreciated the seating arrangement as we flew to fly-ins and airshows. The performance is similar for both models and if you browse Barnstormers, the prices are quite affordable.
I once flew a Chief to OSH from upstate NY, 2000 miles round trip, 22 hours outbound, 11 hrs return ( the wind, don't you know! ). A great cheap flight at 3.5 gph.
A good starter airplane until that P-51 comes along.
http://www.aeronca.org/
http://www.aeroncapilots.com/
http://aeronca.westmont.edu/
http://www.aeronca.com/
http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php

I am a big fan of the 7AC. Great airplane, I have never flown a J-3 but I have taxi'd a few for maint and they are cramped. Ive also flown the supercub with both the 150 and 180 engines and the 180 was certinly FUN!!! If I had a choice. I would love to do my 56 hrs all over again in a 150 hp Citabria 7ECA with the No bounce gear!!!!!! Best of both worlds!!!

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005