Simviation Forums

Goodly snowy afternoon all...

Great day to be sitting around the Bull Shit Table at the local bugsmasher field as the visibility in blowing snow is below VFR "Visual Flight Rules".

A bottle of LAPHROAIG Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky does not hurt either...

My feelings got hurt recently...

That bunch of OLD RETIRED ROCKING CHAIR FLYING GEEZERS along with the OLD GIRL who sided with them told me I was no longer a Rag and Tube Aviator...yup that is what they told me...right out in plain english too.

[color=#000000]Uh Doug, I hate to throw a monkey wrench into the pot, but what about the clipped wing Cub?

I can understand them disapproving of a 172, but a 185? That's just insulting. I'm of course partial to the Cub, seeing as I soloed in one, and I'm ashamed to say that it is the only fabric covered Piper I've flown. However, I may have a chance to fly a PA-14, so ask me again later.

Goodly morning all...

Our beautiful snow is all but gone for the second time this winter.
Will have to do my snow dance for more snow for Christmas Day....

Larry forgot about this...thanks...

What is a clipped wing Cub, anyway?
First, what is a Cub? Well, the airplane known as a "Piper Cub" is a tiny tandem two place high wing monoplane designed by brothers Gilbert and Gordon Taylor, around aproximately 1930 (!!!). The airplane was really first "mass-produced" by the then new Piper Aircraft Company in the year 1937, fitted with 40-horsepower engines. By 1940, the horsepower had grown to 65, enhancing the Cub's vertical performance greatly.

The J-3 model of the Cub weighed in at about 700 pounds, empty, and had a wingspan of 35.5 feet.

The airplane known as the "clipped wing Cub" was STCed by old barnstomer Earl Reed of Kansas City, and very definitely popularized by aerobatic star Charlie Hillard. The Reed Clipped Wing Cub has 7 feet of wingspan sawed from the roots of the wings (3 ribs each side),giving a wingspan of 28 feet, and the lift struts shortened and "doubled" so there are now two primary (large) lift struts holding down each wing, rather than one primary lift strut and one smaller rear strut. Gross weight remains the same as before the conversion, 1220 pounds.

N58920 of Stick and Rudder Aviation is a Reed Clipped Wing souped up with the 85-hp engine. A Cub with an attitude. Rather than stalling and landing at about 30 to 35 mph, the plane now lands at closer to 45. A real hot-rod. Cruise airspeed is easily in the range of 80mph! With the shorter wings, cross-wind landing performance is very much enhanced, but what is really improved is the maneuvering capability. This airplane rolls ecstatically and is generally very well balanced. A joy.

Thanks "specter177" and enjoy your rag and tube aviating...

I just love it when I can get those old retired rocking chair flying geezers (by the way most are not as old as me... ) chewing the rag over nothing...

It is even better when one can stir the pot...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Flew all but four of Doug's combined short/long wing Pipers list.

I've had the pleasure of flying a Cub just once. We finished some major repairs on it at work and it needed to be test-flown to check the wing rigging. Of course, I had an instructor/boss with me to make sure that I didn't break it.

I also learned to taxi tail-draggers in that same airplane while we still had it.

Currently it's resting quietly in it's hangar back at it's home airport.

Also, here's some pics of one of those early Cubs that Doug mentioned. It caught my eye at Oshkosh this year. Really a beautiful restoration. Included are an outside shot and detail shots of the panel, controls, engine and tail.

Cub Pic #1
Cub Pic #2
Cub Pic #3
Cub Pic #4
Cub Pic #5

I especially like the trim controls.

I've had the pleasure of flying a Cub just once. We finished some major repairs on it at work and it needed to be test-flown to check the wing rigging. Of course, I had an instructor/boss with me to make sure that I didn't break it.

I also learned to taxi tail-draggers in that same airplane while we still had it.

Currently it's resting quietly in it's hangar back at it's home airport.

Also, here's some pics of one of those early Cubs that Doug mentioned. It caught my eye at Oshkosh this year. Really a beautiful restoration. Included are an outside shot and detail shots of the panel, controls, engine and tail.

Cub Pic #1
Cub Pic #2
Cub Pic #3
Cub Pic #4
Cub Pic #5

I especially like the trim controls.

That's an early one - may be even older than Doug  .

A bottle of LAPHROAIG Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Be sure to bring one when you and Larry stop by - have you ever tried Dalwhinney?

Goodly morning all...

Thanks for the pictures and comments "TacitBlue"...very nice...

Oh yes Dave, think some of that has passed my lips... ...at least a drop or two...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalwhinnie_Single_Malt

Thanks for the comments one and all...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

A bottle of LAPHROAIG Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Be sure to bring one when you and Larry stop by - have you ever tried Dalwhinney?

Must be popular. These folks are out.
http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail ... uctID=1277

A Scottish friend introduced me to that and together we visited the distillery - between Pitlochry and Inverness, as I recall.

I've had the pleasure of flying a Cub just once. We finished some major repairs on it at work and it needed to be test-flown to check the wing rigging. Of course, I had an instructor/boss with me to make sure that I didn't break it.

I also learned to taxi tail-draggers in that same airplane while we still had it.

Currently it's resting quietly in it's hangar back at it's home airport.

Also, here's some pics of one of those early Cubs that Doug mentioned. It caught my eye at Oshkosh this year. Really a beautiful restoration. Included are an outside shot and detail shots of the panel, controls, engine and tail.

Cub Pic #1
Cub Pic #2
Cub Pic #3
Cub Pic #4
Cub Pic #5

I especially like the trim controls.

That's an early one - may be even older than Doug

Good morning all...

According to this Link there are over one hundred (100) still on the United States aircraft civil register in 2009...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_J-2

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug