Ed Scharch • USN Records • Training • CAA-WTS • Preflight • Primary • Intermediate • Operational • Carrier Qualification
Piper J-3 'Cub' • N2S 'Kaydet' • SNV 'Valiant' • SNJ 'Texan' • F4F 'Wildcat' • F6F 'Hellcat' • F4U 'Corsair'
Training Carriers • USS Wolverine • USS Sable • S2c EL Scharch (NAS Corpus Christi)

Piper J-3 Cub
CAA-WTS civilian trainer
J-3

Aircraft Type

Civilian trainer

Manufacturer

Piper Aircraft Corporation

Engine

Flat 4-cylinder, air-cooled, 171 cid

Horsepower

65 hp @ 2,350 rpm

Weight

765 lbs (empty)

Max Speed

87 mph

Configuration

2 seat tandem (student and instructor)
 

The Piper J-3 Cub trainer was designed by C. G. Taylor and Walter Jamouneau with its first flight in 1938. The model was produced in 1938-1947 and included 19,888 US built, 150 Canadian built and 253 TG-8 gliders units all together. The cost ranged from just $995 to $2,461, when new. Variant models include the PA-15 Vagabond, PA-16 Clipper and PA-18 Super Cub.

The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem (fore and aft) seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time. The Cub's simplicity, affordability and popularity invokes comparisons to the Ford Model-T automobile.

Ed Scharch first learned to fly and solo with a Piper J-3 Cub out of Crites Field at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Through the Civil Aeronautics Authority-War Training Service (CAA-WTS), he received ground school classes taught at Carroll College. Upon completing the first (academic) half of the program, he received civilian flight training from private instructors at the Spring City Flying Service at Crites Field/Waukesha County Airport. Ed successfully completed the course and passed the elimination phase (the Navy's prerequisite for V-5 Aviation Cadet) on 22 Feb 1943.
 
Edward L. Scharch Photo Collection
 CAA-WTS civilian pilot training program at Waukesha, Wisconsin
Dec 1942 to Feb 1943
See photos here: Ed Scharch, CAA-WTS Waukesha, WI (1942-43)
 
 
Specifications Piper J3C-65 Cub
General Characteristics
Crew:   Two seat tandem trainer
Length:   22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)
Wingspan:   35 ft 3 in (10.74 m)
Height:   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Wing area:   178.5 ft² (16.58 m²)
Empty weight:   765 lb (345 kg)
Useful load:   455 lb (205 kg)
Max takeoff weight:   1,220 lb (550 kg)
Powerplant:   1× Continental A-65-8, air-cooled flat four,
65 hp (48 kW) at 2,350 rpm
     
Performance
Maximum speed:   76 kn (87 mph, 140 km/h)
Cruise speed:   65 kn (75 mph, 121 km/h)
Range:   191 NM (220 mi, 354 km)
Rate of climb:   450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
Service ceiling:   11,500 ft (3,500 m)
Wing loading:   6.84 lb/ft² (33.4 kg/m²)
Power / mass   18.75 lb/hp (11.35 kg/kW)
j3
Aircraft silhouette
 
 
 
 
cub
Airplane's logo
 
 

Engine Specifications

Continental A-65-8/O-170-3

General Specs  
Type: 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine
Bore:

3.875 in (98 mm)
Stroke:

3.625 in (92 mm)
Displacement:

171 in³ (2.8 L)
Length:

31 in (787 mm)
Width:

31.5 in (800 mm)
Height:

29 5/16 in (745 mm)
Dry weight:

170 lb (77 kg)
   
Components

 
Valvetrain:

Two valves per cylinder, pushrod-actuated.
Fuel system:

Updraft carburetor
Fuel type:

80/87 octane aviation gas
Oil system:

Wet sump
Cooling system:

Air-cooled 
   
Performance

 
Power output:

65 hp (48 kW) at 2,300 rpm
Specific power:

0.38 hp/in³ (17.1 kW/L)
Compression ratio:

6.3:1
Fuel consumption:

4.4 US gal/hr
Oil consumption:

max. desirable 0.37 US quarts/hr
Power-to-weight ratio:

0.38 hp/lb (0.62 kW/kg)
 
Continental
A-65-8, 4-cylinder horiz-opp
engine
Engine displacement of this model is 171 cubic inches. The horizontally opposed (flat or boxer) designed 4-cylinder is air-cooled which delivered 65 hp at 2,350 rpm.
 
 
logo 1 
Continental Aircraft Engine Company
Detroit, Michigan 

 
 
piper
  Piper J-3 Cub
Variants
 
J-3 Equipped with a Continental A-40, A-40-2 or A-40-3 engine of 37 hp (28 kW), or A-40-4 engine of 40 hp (30 kW)
J3C-40 Certified 14 July 1938 and equipped with a Continental A-40-4 or A-40-5 of 40 hp (30 kW)
J3C-50 Certified 14 July 1938 and equipped with a Continental A-50-1 or A-40-2 to -9 (inclusive) of 50 hp (37 kW)
J3C-50S Certified 14 July 1938 and equipped with a Continental A-50-1 or A-40-2 to -9 (inclusive) of 50 hp (37 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3C-65 Certified 6 July 1939 and equipped with a Continental A-65-1 or A-65-3, 6, 7, 8, 8F, 9 or 14 of 65 hp (48 kW) or an A-65-14, Continental A-75-8, A-75-8-9 or A-75-12 of 75 hp (56 kW) or Continental A-85-8 or C-85-12 of 85 hp (63 kW) or Continental A-90-8F of 90 hp (67 kW)
J3C-65S Certified 27 May 1940 and equipped with a Continental A-65-1 or A-65-3, 6, 7, 8, 8F, 9 or 14 of 65 hp (48 kW) or an A-65-14, Continental A-75-8, A-75-8-9 or A-75-12 of 75 hp (56 kW) or Continental A-85-8 or C-85-12 of 85 hp (63 kW) or Continental A-90-8F of 90 hp (67 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3F-50 Certified 14 July 1938 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series 50 of 50 hp (37 kW)
J3F-50S Certified 14 July 1938 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series 50 of 50 hp (37 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3F-60 Certified 13 April 1940 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series A of 65 hp (48 kW) or a Franklin 4AC-171 of 60 hp (45 kW).
J3F-60S Certified 31 May 1940 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-150 Series A of 65 hp (48 kW) or a Franklin 4AC-171 of 60 hp (45 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3F-65 Certified 7 August 1940 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-176-B2 or a Franklin 4AC-176-BA2 of 65 hp (48 kW).
J3F-65S Certified 4 January 1943 and equipped with a Franklin 4AC-176-B2 or a Franklin 4AC-176-BA2 of 65 hp (48 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3L Certified 17 September 1938 and equipped with a Lycoming O-145-A1 of 50 hp (37 kW) or a Lycoming O-145-A2 or A3 of 55 hp (41 kW)
J3L-S Certified 2 May 1939 and equipped with a Lycoming O-145-A1 of 50 hp (37 kW) or a Lycoming O-145-A2 or A3 of 55 hp (41 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3L-65 Certified 27 May 1940 and equipped with a Lycoming O-145-B1, B2 or B3 of 65 hp (48 kW)
J3L-65S Certified 27 May 1940 and equipped with a Lycoming O-145-B1, B2 or B3 of 65 hp (48 kW). Equipped with optional float kit.
J3P Variant powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Lenape LM-3-50 or Lenape AR-3-160 three-cylinder radial engine.
J-3R Variant with slotted flaps powered by a 65 hp (48 kW) Lenape LM-3-65 engine.
J-3X 1944 variant with cantilever wing powered by a 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A-65-8 engine.
 
 
 
 Photos
 
els class skis fly
cockpit j3 eng
piper 1 piper 2 ski 2