View source for Piper PA-18 Super Cub

{{Aircraft infobox
| name = Piper PA-18 Super Cub
| image = Piper Super Cub 1 1998-07-07.jpg
| caption = Piper PA-18 Super Cub. Photo: Ansgar Walk, CC BY-SA 2.5, via [[commons:File:Piper Super Cub 1 1998-07-07.jpg|Wikimedia Commons]]
| make = Piper
| type = Light utility aircraft
| origin = United States
| first_flight = 1949
| produced = 1949–1983; 1988–1994
| number_built = 10,326
| faa_registered = 3,629 (FAA register, October 30, 2026)
| seats = 1, 1 passenger
| engine = Lycoming O-320, 150 hp
| cruise = 115 mph (PA-18-150 landplane)
| range = 460 mi (PA-18-150 landplane)
| ceiling = 19,000 ft (PA-18-150 landplane)
| gross_weight = 1,750 lb (PA-18-150 landplane)
| developed_from = Piper PA-11 Cub Special
| category = Piston singles
}}

The '''Piper PA-18 Super Cub''' is a two-seat, single-engine high-wing airplane introduced by Piper Aircraft in 1949. It was developed from the PA-11 Cub Special and traces its line back through the [[Piper J-3 Cub]] to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. More than 10,000 were built in close to 40 years of production.<ref name="wp"/> In the U.S. there are 3,629 with a valid registration.<ref name="faa"/>

Super Cubs are common in bush flying, banner towing and glider towing.<ref name="wp"/>

== History ==
The Super Cub kept the earlier Cubs' "rag and tube" build, fabric over a welded steel-tube frame, but added an electrical system, three-notch flaps and much more power, which made it a very different airplane to fly. The first true Super Cubs had flaps, two fuel tanks and a Lycoming O-235 of about 108 hp.<ref name="wp"/>

Power grew through the 125 and 135 hp versions to the 1954 PA-18-150 with a 150 hp Lycoming O-320, the standard Super Cub and by far the most common on the U.S. register today. Owners often fit 160 hp or even 180 hp engines. The high-lift wing and strong engine make it a favorite for floats and skis, and Piper also built the PA-18A for spraying crops.<ref name="wp"/><ref name="faa"/>

== Registered in the United States ==
The FAA register lists '''3,629''' of these airplanes with a valid U.S. registration. Here they are by the model name the FAA uses.<ref name="faa"/>
<div class="aw-wide">
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! FAA model name !! Registered
|-
| PA-18-150 || 2,090
|-
| PA-18 || 468
|-
| PA-18A 150 || 379
|-
| PA-18-135 || 220
|-
| PA-18A || 152
|-
| PA-18-105 SPECIAL || 95
|-
| PA-18-125 || 90
|-
| PA-18 105 || 56
|-
| PA-18A-135 || 50
|-
| PA-18S-150 || 6
|-
| PA-18AS-125 || 5
|-
| PA-18S || 4
|-
| PA-18S-135 || 3
|-
| PA-18S-125 || 2
|-
| PA18-160 || 2
|-
| PA-18A RESTRICTED || 2
|-
| PA-18-125 A1 || 1
|-
| PA-18AS-135 || 1
|-
| PA-18 150 || 1
|-
| PA-18 SUPER CUB || 1
|-
| ''1 other model names'' || 1
|}
</div>

== Specifications (PA-18-150 landplane) ==
<div class="aw-wide">
{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! PA-18-150 landplane
|-
| Crew || 1
|-
| Passengers / capacity || 1 passenger
|-
| Length || 22 ft 7 in
|-
| Wingspan || 35 ft 2+1/2 in
|-
| Height || 6 ft 8+1/2 in
|-
| Wing area || 178.5 sq ft
|-
| Empty weight || 930 lb
|-
| Maximum takeoff weight || 1,750 lb
|-
| Fuel || 36 USgal
|-
| Engine || Lycoming O-320, 150 hp (air-cooled flat four engine)
|-
| Maximum speed || 130 mph
|-
| Cruise speed || 115 mph
|-
| Stall speed || 43 mph
|-
| Never-exceed speed || 153 mph
|-
| Range || 460 mi
|-
| Service ceiling || 19,000 ft
|-
| Rate of climb || 960 ft/min
|}
</div>
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.<ref name="wp"/>

{{Owner notes}}

== Photos ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170">
File:9A-DBS, a Piper Cub with no military history.jpg|9A-DBS, Piper Cub at the airport Lučko, Croatia. Photo: Jerry Gunner, CC BY 2.0
File:Japan 300316 Tokorozawa Piper L-21 01.jpg|Piper L-21 at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum. Photo: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0
File:Super Cub in Georgian Bay.jpg|Super Cub, on floats in Canada. Photo: MAS pilot, CC BY-SA 4.0
File:CC-KWC (PA-18 Super Cub).jpg|A parked super cub on display. Photo: TRTPUWU, CC BY-SA 4.0
</gallery>
All photos are from [[commons:Main Page|Wikimedia Commons]]; click a photo for its full credit and license.

== Buying a Piper PA-18 Super Cub ==
{{For sale soon}}

== Sources ==
<references>
<ref name="wp">Wikipedia, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-18_Super_Cub Piper PA-18 Super Cub]", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.</ref>
<ref name="faa">Federal Aviation Administration, [https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/releasable_aircraft_download Releasable Aircraft Database], file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.</ref>
</references>