Flying one of these babies around Door County in the fall is way up there on my bucket list. I better get moving!
A big birthday celebration Tuesday at EAA AirVenture. One of the most popular vintage aircraft, that weighs less than a thousand pounds, turns 75 years old. Pilots have come from around the world to celebrate the Piper Cub.
The Piper J-3 Cub was built in 1937 through 1947. Right away the Civilian Pilot Training Program saw a use for the plane.
“There was a need for training planes and the one that seemed to do it the best for a reasonable price was the Piper Cub,” said H.G Frautschy, the executive director of the Vintage Aircraft Association.
Frautschy told FOX 11 the cub became famous quickly.
“They were on cigarette packs, match kit covers, on any kind of popular advertising at the time, the Piper Cub became the plane everybody knew about,” said Frautschy.
Pilot Steve Krog owns three Piper Cubs. He Told FOX 11 they are some of the most popular vintage aircraft.
According to Krog, who also runs a flight school using Piper Cubs, they are a safe, relatively easy plane to learn to fly. But it’s not just these factors that make the planes popular.
“Many of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers learned to fly in cubs so there’s a real connection to the airplane,” said Krog.
Frautschy said Piper Aircraft built about 6,000 cubs around the WWII era, about half remain today. 181 came to AirVenture for the 75th anniversary celebration.
“We have never had that many Piper Cubs here on the field at one time, so it’s really cool to see that much yellow,” said Frautschy.
And why yellow?
“Old man Piper, when he was looking for for a color, looked for the cheapest he could find,” said Krog.
This color came with the right price, 75 years later it’s known as “cub yellow.”
The plane is also known for a few other features.
The cub wasn’t built for comfort, it’s difficult to get in and out of and once you’re up in the air, it’s a little windy, but pilots say they love to fly it anyway.
“They’re noisy, they’re cold, everything vibrates in them and they’re the sweetest, most fun airplane you will ever fly,” said Krog.
A statement at least 180 other aviators agree with.” via Happy 75th birthday to the Piper Cub.
Bright, shiny objects! 
My daddy owned a Piper Cub. I was tiny, grasping at the fence links as my grandmother pointed and said, “Look, it’s your daddy way up there.” I don’t know if that really happened. Memories are often filled in to make sense, and I was only eighteen months old when the Piper and my father and his best friend ended in a heap against the rocks. It was Mother’s Day, May 8th, 1955. They were burried on my mother’s birthday, May 12th.
It’s in my blood; that dna passed forward. Unbeknowst to each other, both my oldest brother and I eventally checked off #1 of our individual bucket lists: 1. The demand to fly.
It was spectacular! To feel what my father had felt in his passion for flying was magical! All the Earthly troubles remain on the ground when one’s tether is released. There I was, free flying with only air beneath the wings!
And it was at that moment that I felt him. My daddy lives in my heart, and despite growing up without him, we are connected by this love of flying, among other things.
I went on to take the Army R.O.T.C. class for Instrumentation Ground School at the University of Utah. It wasn’t a real rocket. It certainly was no Piper Cub. But it sure is a cool jet simulator!
~Jan Deelstra.
http://TheFlyingGame.org coming soon….
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Jan, thanks for sharing your story. I think the thing I love most about flying in a Piper Cub is that it’s slow and the passenger sits behind the pilot and you can look down easily on both sides. In my mind it’s a perfect plan for siteseeing! I’m glad your father’s accident did not diminish your love of flying; I’m heading to Airventure in Oshkosh today — I’ll be thinking of you and your dad whenever I see a Cub…
By the way, one of our family stories is that my parents gifted me with a ride in a Piper Cub for my 3rd bday and I blew chunks in the back seat. I remember it so well that now I know it wasn’t a Piper Cub because there were 4 seats. Probably a 172… :-D
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Todd, I ADORE the story of your 3rd birthday! Have a great time at the airshow and know I’ll be with you in spirit! Love the Cubs! And I’m not talkin’ baseball!
:-)
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Thanks, Jan — I posted a bunch of pics from my trip yesterday if you’re interested…
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I could only imagine how beautiful the view will be! I hope you do it and have an amazing time.
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Gotta get certified first! :-D
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