Timeline Flight 8 -- Piper J3-65 Cub

With the approach of Civil Air Patrol's 80th anniversary Dec.1, Maj. Ronald C. Finger of the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron worked with Col. Frank Blazich of the Col. Louisa S. Morse Center for Civil Air Patrol History, CAP national historian, on a special project -- to create “Timeline Flight” paintings showcasing some of the wide variety of CAP aircraft flown over the years.

The 21 aircraft selected span the Coastal Patrol days of World War II, the postwar years and finally the aircraft Civil Air Patrol aircrews fly today. This is the eighth. Starting today, others will be posted every five days.

Piper J3-65 Cub NC41567

• Capacity: 2
• Length: 22 feet 5 inches
• Maximum speed: 87 mph
• Cruise speed: 75 mph
• Range: 220 miles
• Service ceiling: 11,500 feet

The Piper J-3 Cub is a tandem-seat aircraft built from 1938-1947 with a simple, lightweight design giving it good low-speed handling and short-field performance. The J3C-65 was powered by the 65-horsepower Continental A-65-8 engine. During World War II, Civil Air Patrol members flying their personal “Cubs” performed courier service and missing aircraft searches. The Piper Cub’s distinctive “Cub-Yellow” paint became a common sight at CAP airfields.

NC41567 was flown by CAP's Michigan Wing.

Sikorsky S-39B
Stinson 105-10A Voyager
Beechcraft Staggerwing B-17L 
Waco YKS-6
Fairchild 24-C8F
Grumman G-44A Widgeon
Stinson SR-9C Reliant “Gull Wing”