Piper J-4 Cub Coupe
Piper Aircraft · United States · first flew 1938 · light aircraft
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe was a side-by-side two-seat derivative of the famous J-3 Cub, offering the same high-wing simplicity in a slightly wider cabin that allowed pilots to sit abreast. It was aimed at private owners wanting a more social and comfortable Cub experience.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Enclosed cabin with wider fuselage than the tandem-seat J-3 |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Side-by-side two-seat high-wing lightplane derived from the J-3 Cub
- Enclosed cabin with wider fuselage than the tandem-seat J-3
- Continental A-50 or A-65 engine
Essentially a wider-fuselage J-3 Cub with side-by-side seating visible through the larger cabin windows; the broader cockpit section distinguishes it from its tandem-seat cousin.
Specifications
- The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe has a length of 6.86 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.02 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 161 km/h (100 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Introduced in 1938, the J-4 was produced in modest numbers alongside the more successful J-3. Production ceased during World War II, by which time just over 1,200 had been built; post-war, Piper focused on the PA-11 and PA-12 designs rather than reviving the J-4.
Variants
Produced as the J-4A and J-4E with different engines; all variants share the same basic airframe.
Where you'll see it
Used extensively by private owners and some flying schools in the United States in the late 1930s and early 1940s; many examples survive and are flown today as vintage aircraft.
Related aircraft
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