| J-4 Cub Coupe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Piper J-4A Cub Coupe displayed at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona in 2005 | |
| Role | Trainer and private owner aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Piper |
| First flight | May 1938 |
| Introduction | 1938 |
| Status | many still flying as of 2014 |
| Produced | 1938-1942 |
| Number built | 1,251 |
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two place side-by-side version of the Piper J-3 that was built between 1938 and 1942 by Piper Aircraft. It was Piper's first model with side-by-side seating.
The fuselage of the J-4 was wider than the J-3 and the aircraft had a fully enclosed rear decking to the fuselage top. [1] The first J-4s had a Continental 50 hp A50 engine with upward-facing exhaust ports, an open cowl, oil and spring landing gear, a modified tail wheel system and many other changes. The early J-4 had a comfortable cockpit but was slower than most side by side aircraft of the day.
The 1940 J-4A gained a fully enclosed cowling, a Continental 65 hp A65 engine, and aft auxiliary fuel. The J-4B was fitted with a 60 hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine. [2] The final version was the 1941 J-4E which sported a 75 hp Continental engine and redesigned interior. The main fuel tank was moved to the wing along with a header tank. Performance was now on par with similar contemporary types, but the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed its fate as all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II. [3]
Some J-4s had another unique feature in the tail construction: the stabilizer was made of stainless steel tubing, riveted together with gussets.
General characteristicsPerformance
Data from Simpson, 2001, p. 430.
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
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The J-4 remained an excellent selling product for Piper until December 1941 when all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.
Media related to Piper J-4 at Wikimedia Commons