Piper PA-11 Cub Special

Piper · United States · first flew 1947 · light aircraft

The Piper PA-11 Cub Special is a post-war development of the classic J-3 Cub offering a more powerful engine and minor refinements, retaining the J-3's beloved handling characteristics and simplicity.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.78 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Tandem two-seater fabric-covered high-wing monoplane, a direct successor to the J-3 Cub
Continental C-90 engine replacing the J-3's lower-powered Lycoming or Continental units
No side windows aft of the cabin doors; otherwise near-identical silhouette to the J-3

Nearly identical to the J-3 Cub; the slightly more powerful engine gives a marginally different cowling profile but the aircraft are extremely difficult to distinguish in the field without inspecting the data plate.

Specifications

The Piper PA-11 Cub Special has a length of 6.78 m (22 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.74 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 193 km/h (120 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 (tandem).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Introduced in 1947, the PA-11 used a 90 hp Continental C-90 instead of the J-3's 65 hp engine, improving climb and useful load. It bridged the gap between the wartime J-3 production and the later PA-18 Super Cub, with around 1,500 examples built before it was superseded.

Variants

Produced as the standard PA-11 Cub Special; a floatplane version on Edo floats was also offered.

Where you'll see it

Used extensively in bush operations in Alaska and Canada; surviving examples remain active in agricultural and backcountry work alongside restored J-3 Cubs.

Related aircraft

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