AVweb's Cub vs. Champ Shootout

Piper's venerable J-3 Cub and the Aeronca Champion are classic ragwing taildraggers that are becoming popular as LSA choices. In this nose-to-nose comparison, AVweb's Elaine Kauh and Paul Bertorelli take a close look at both aircraft.

[danielharmon]

HOLY CRAP - THAT IS MY CUB! I purchased this Cub from Sam Rinaldo in upstate New York in the early eighties. I recovered the wings and had everything back to original. We won Reserve Grand Champion with it. I hangered it a Becks Grove Airport and flew in and out of my back yard runway. Sold it following the the birth of my beautiful daughter 33 years ago (only two seats and we were now 3). Loved this dear plane like a family member. I have goose bumps and tears. NC22726 lives on!!! Thanks for the memories.

[AT]

I started out my ag flying career many years ago by chasing birds off of sweet corn in a Champ, I always loved flying that plane.

[spurgear]

Just bought a Champ.
Now to learn to do fabric.
Feeling excited.

[williamcoon]

The Champ is the first airplane I fell in love with, both the champ and the cub are wonderful airplanes and so much fun. Thanks for the fantastic video.

[JimForeman]

My first solo was in a J-3 Cub and my last airplane was also a J-3 Cub. I sold it to a guy who lived in Bangor, ME (I lived in Black Forest, Colorado) and the kicker on the deal was I'd check him out on the flight to his home. It only took six days and 33 hours flying time but when he got there he could fly it from either seat, navigate using sectional charts and do it with no radio of any sort. He's also flown under power lines, bridges and three feet above the ground.

[bidlymovies]

Nice video.Definitely go with a Champ if you want to go somewhere.Cubs are more suited to just messing around in the pattern.I used to worry about having enough fuel to go to 25 miles with a slight headwind in a Cub.The Cubs frame is not chromolly tubing while the Champs is.

[WendelltheSongwriter]

With the Champ at rest being in takeoff configuration, I was taught not to push the tailwheel off the ground, and that's the way I fly it. The whole airplane just flies off when it's ready. Lots of tailwheel pilots feel the need to get that tailwheel off the ground right away, I realize. With the Cub, the improvement in forward vis is obviously one reason. Great video; keep 'em coming.

[FlightChops]

Awesome! I'm just new to tail wheel flying - checked out in the Super Cub, which is challenging; however, the extra power and flying solo from the front seat probably makes it a little more forgiving than the J3 with less power, and flying from the back seat - So, I'm looking forward to flying a J3 :)

[bluestudio]

Great video. One of the planes I learned to fly in was a restored 1941 J-3, owned by my buddy, a CFI. Adored that thing! I also took taildragger lessons in his 1959 180, but it was a machine, while the Cub was alive (that sounded silly). He always said he wanted a champ, and we borrowed his friend's once. For whatever reason, my heart went to the cub. Even though it was slower, it felt more responsive, like it just WANTED to be tossed around. Great fun! In any case, they are both great little planes that teach you to fly by what your butt tells ya, and that's invaluable.

[cencalmatt]

Best AVweb video I've seen in quite a while. Love both these birds. Good job

[aerostaraircraftsanctuary]

I'm partial to the Champ. Owned a '46 way back in 1972

[moodiblues]

I first soloed in a Cub and have to admit my landings were sometimes spectacular with me bouncing down the runway and sometimes throwing in a ground loop for spectator enjoyment. I had to learn side slipping to land on the short obstructed runways. I never took to the Cub and switched to a Cessna 150 enjoying the tricycle landing gear, fuller instrumentation and flaps.

[toddfleury]

Never got to fly a cub sadly but have some hours in a 1946 Champ. It had a C65 that was running on condition and very tired. Great fun, I’d love to fly another before I’m gone.

[jamesjanssen]

I first learned to fly a Cub as a young teenager . My family owned one, and a Champ that was rented for instruction. I flew both all the time . I happened to solo in the Champ because someone just finished some instruction in it that that day.
Both were 65 hp with no electrical and mechanical brakes . I liked them both . Maybe the Champ was more practical ( for most people ) in some ways but, when given the choice, I always chose the J-3. The reason ? just seemed to be more fun to fly. As far as performance ? I remember the Cub as getting off the ground slightly faster, and I could land it slightly shorter, not much different though. The Champ would do better if poorly flown though --again --slightly. Easy to bounce a Cub!. If I were to buy one today ? it would be a Champ because of price .
I later moved to the PA-12/18's and they are the greatest ( and the easiest fly ) tail dragger's ever built IMO. Expensive now day's sorry to say .

[KowboyUSA]

Outstanding overview and comparison of two classics. Thanks guys!

[warshipsdd-]

Learned to fly in a 1939 Champ from two barnstormers in from a sod field. You use the seat of your pants and the sound of the wind. Great old bird.

[paowner]

FYI, one reason it takes more down elevator to lift the Champ’s tail off is the Champs balance on its main gear is different. The weight on the Champ tailwheel is about 20 lbs higher. My cub tailwheel weight is 52 lbs. My friend’s champ weighs 74 lbs.

[tfarris]

Great video!

As another pre-war cub owner (1940) that came from the factory with a Franklin, it's important that your Cub is still registered as a J3F or there is a clear line of paperwork on file from the CAA/FAA to show the actual conversion to a J3C in the records. I had to find out the hard way during a FAA investigation that a continental engine on a Cub that was originally Franklin powered (and a J3F from the factory) does not make it a J3C....although there is no real physical difference. Piper made them with three different type certificates, and it can

[TheAirplaneDriver]

Still loving my ‘47 Cessna 140. 500 lbs useful load, 640 FPM climb (book), 5 hrs range, full electric. Just gotta watch that spring steel gear 😵😵😀😀

[sblack]

How can you put a starter on an a65-8? Or do you have to swap out the accessory case to make it a -12?