This airplane goes by the name of the Piper “Cub.” It’s signature shape is recognizable after more than fifty years in the air. Countless pilots first took to the air in this machine, which William Piper developed to satisfy his own desire to take to the air.
The proven design still flies, which is testament to Piper’s philosophy. Today, most people refer to planes of this configuration as “tail draggers,” meaning that there is a small wheel at the tail which sits lower than the nose. Truthfully, the correct term is “conventional” gear as opposed to “tricycle” gear. Well, this may be an esoteric digression here at The Bent Page, but I just wanted to set the record straight. And here’s a look at the power plant that pulls this craft through the sky.
It only takes four, air-cooled cylinders to do the job as this is a very light airplane. The cylinders are exposed from the cowling to promote cooling. These engines typically operate for about 2000 hours before requiring an overhaul. Then there is the cockpit.
As you can see, only the basics are here. You have an airspeed indicator and an altimeter, a tachometer for the engines along with oil temp and pressure. There’s a compass to point the way and a turn and slip indicator which is that curved, clear tube in the center with the black ball in it. The turn and slip indicator lets the pilot know that he’s flying in a coordinated fashion (or not) and this is an important concept in flight. If the aircraft is uncoordinated, it is slipping or skidding just like a car on ice. The problem is, in certain adverse conditions a slip or skid can lead to a spin and spins can end in tragedy. Hence the simple yet highly effective device.
Note that placard on the panel that says solo flight from the rear seat. This is to improve the balance of the plane when only one person is aboard. So if you ever see just one guy in the back you’ll know why.
At any rate, airplanes like this are fading from sight. It’s not cheap to fly and the interest among young people has declined a bit. I can’t imagine a computer game is ten percent as thrilling as flying a Piper Cub but tastes do change. I’d rather be the one doing something than among the others talking about someone doing something. Ah, well, to each his own.
That’s a handsome airplane up there, no doubt about it. It has excellent stability, decent fuel economy, and great visibility. These days, the instrument panel has changed dramatically. Slowly the “steam” gauges (or round dials you might have seen) are being replaced by multi-function displays like the one shown below.
The information presented is the same, only the format has changed. This is not your grandfather’s 172. Still, flying remains the same; you have to watch your airspeed, look out for other traffic, and not forget to keep an eye on where you’re going.
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