Piper J-4
| J-4 Cub Coupe | |
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| 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 in 2009 |
| 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; combined with docile low-speed handling, this made it a good trainer.
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[edit] J-4 development
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 A50, with up[clarification needed] exhaust, 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 full pressure cowling,[clarification needed] (which fully encloses the engine), A65 engine, and aft auxiliary fuel. The J-4B was fitted with a 60 h.p. Franklin 4AC-171 engine.[2] The final version was the 1941 J-4E which sported a 75hp 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.
Some J-4s had another unique feature in the tail construction: the stabilizer was made of stainless steel tubing, riveted together with gussets.
[edit] Variants
- J-4
- powered by a 50-hp (37-kW) Continental A50-1 piston engine.
- J-4A
- powered by a 65-hp (48-kW) Continental A65-1 or -8 piston engine.
- J-4B
- powered by a 60-hp (45-kW) Franklin 4AC-171 or 65-hp (48-kW) 4AC-176-B2 piston engine.
- J-4E
- powered by a 75-hp (56-kW) Continental A75-9 piston engine.
- J-4F
- powered by a 55-hp (41-kW) Avco Lycoming 0-145-A1, -A2 or 65-hp (48-kW) 0-145-B1 piston engine.
[edit] Specification (J-4A)
Data from Simpson, 2001, p. 430.
General characteristics
- Length: 22 ft 6 in ( m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in ( m)
- Height: 6 ft 10 in ( m)
- Gross weight: 1300 lb ( kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65-1 piston engine, 65 hp ( kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 mph ( km/h)
- Cruise speed: 92 mph ( km/h)
- Range: 360 miles ( km)
- Rate of climb: 600 ft/min ( m/s)
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
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