Piper J-4
{{Short description|1930s aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = J-4 Cub Coupe
|image = Piper J-4A Pima Museum 29.10.05R.jpg
|caption = Piper J-4A Cub Coupe displayed at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona in 2005
|type = Trainer and private owner aircraft
|manufacturer = Piper
|designer =
|first_flight = May 1938
|introduction = 1938
|status = Many still flying as of 2024
|more_users =
|produced = 1938-1942
|number_built = 1,251
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two place side-by-side version of the Piper J-3 that was built between 1938 and 1942 by Piper Aircraft. It was Piper's first model with side-by-side seating.
Development
File:Seaplane owned by Garland Manufacturing Company on the Detroit River (1946).jpg) on the Detroit River in 1946.]]
The fuselage of the J-4 was wider than the J-3 and the aircraft had a fully enclosed rear decking to the fuselage top.Simpson, 2001, p.429 The first J-4s had a Continental 50 hp A50 engine with upward-facing exhaust ports, an open cowl, oil and spring landing gear, a modified tail wheel system and many other changes. The early J-4 had a comfortable cockpit but was slower than most side by side aircraft of the day.
The 1940 J-4A gained a fully enclosed cowling, a Continental 65 hp A65 engine, and aft auxiliary fuel. The J-4B was fitted with a 60 hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine.Simpson, 2001, p.429 The final version was the 1941 J-4E which sported a 75 hp Continental engine and redesigned interior. The main fuel tank was moved to the wing along with a header tank. Performance was now on par with similar contemporary types, but the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed its fate as all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.{{cite web|title=Cub Coupe|url=http://www.pimaair.org/visit/aircraft-by-name/item/piper-j-4a-cub-coupe|website=www.pimaair.org|publisher=Pima Air & Space Museum|access-date=5 July 2014|quote=The J-4 remained an excellent selling product for Piper until December 1941 when all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.}}
Some J-4s had another unique feature in the tail construction: the stabilizer was made of stainless steel tubing, riveted together with gussets.
Variants
;J-4: powered by a 50-hp (37-kW) Continental A50-1 piston engine.
;J-4A: powered by a 65-hp (48-kW) Continental A65-1 or -8 piston engine.
;J-4B: powered by a 60-hp (45-kW) Franklin 4AC-171 or 65-hp (48-kW) 4AC-176-B2 piston engine.
;J-4E: powered by a 75-hp (56-kW) Continental A75-9 piston engine.
;J-4F: powered by a 55-hp (41-kW) Avco Lycoming O-145-A1, -A2 or 65-hp (48-kW) O-145-B1 piston engine.
Specification (J-4A)
{{Aircraft specs}}
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Simpson, 2001, p. 430.
|prime units? = imp
|length m=6.86
|length ft=22
|length in=6
|span m=11.02
|span ft=36
|span in=2
|height m=2.08
|height ft=6
|height in=10
|gross weight kg=589.67
|gross weight lb=1300
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Continental A65-1 piston engine
|eng1 hp=65
|max speed kmh=160.93
|max speed mph=100
|cruise speed kmh=148.06
|cruise speed mph=92
|range km=579.36
|range miles=360
|ceiling m=4572
|ceiling ft=15,000
|climb rate ms=3.04
|climb rate ftmin=600
}}
See also
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|related=
|similar aircraft=
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References
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Rod|title=Airlife's World Aircraft|year=2001|publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd|isbn=1-84037-115-3}}
{{refend}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Piper J-4}}
{{Piper aircraft}}
{{Piper Cub}}
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}
Category:1930s United States sport aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1938