Piper PA-18 Super Cub
Piper · piston, 1 engine · ICAO PA18
The Piper PA-18 Super Cub has the 3rd-narrowest main gear of the 364 types on this site, and the joint lowest tail and the highest wingspan-to-length ratio among the 28 Piper types. Within the 3-variant Piper Cub line line it has the shortest length and shortest wingspan. It also has the joint 5th-lowest FAA reference approach speed of the 364 types on this site (the input for its Approach Category).
Airport design codes
- I
Design Group I. Set by wingspan and tail height alike.
- A
Approach Category A. From its FAA reference approach speed of 48 kt (band under 91 kt).
Gear and weights
| Cockpit to main gear | 17.2 ft | 5.2 m |
|---|---|---|
| Span-to-length ratio | 1.57 | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 1,750 lb | 794 kg |
| Max. landing weight | 1,750 lb | 794 kg |
| Main gear code | S | |
| Taxiway Design Group | 1A | |
| ICAO wake category | Light |
Where it sits
The PA-18 Super Cub also has the 3rd-shortest length and the 2nd-largest fleet on the US register among the 28 Piper types, and the joint 3rd-lowest maximum takeoff weight among the 27 Piper types with a published figure. By length it falls between the Aviat Husky and the Aeronca 7AC Champion.
Main gear 6.0 ft wide (1.8 m), 17% of the span; wheelbase 16.7 ft (5.1 m), 74% of the length.
US records: 80 US flight-plan operations in FY2024; 2,894 on the US register.
One of 3 variants on the Piper Cub line page.
Closest in size on this site
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub
- Aviat Husky
- Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser
- Taylorcraft BC
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.