Piper J-5
| J-5 |
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| Role |
Multipurpose light civil aircraft |
| Manufacturer |
Piper Aircraft |
| First flight |
July 1939 |
| Produced |
1940-1946 |
| Number built |
1,507 |
| Unit cost |
US$$1,995 (1947) |
| Variants |
Piper J-3
Piper PA-12 |
The Piper J-5 'Cub Cruiser' was a larger, more powerful version of the basic Piper J-3 Cub. It was designed just two years after the J-3 Cub, and differed by having three seats instead of two, a 75-hp Continental engine and a cruising speed of 85 mph. It was advertised as being a three-seater, but pilots of the Cruiser have said it would be more accurately described as a two-and-a-half-seater, because only a small child would feel comfortable in the third seat. The Cruiser also had a deeper fuselage than the J-3. The Cruiser sold for $1,995 when it was first designed. Only about two hundred remain airworthy today.
History
Throughout World War II, Piper modified the basic structure of the J-5A. The J-5B had a 75 h.p. Lycoming GO-145-C2 engine. The later J-5C also built as the HE-1 (later AE-1) ambulance for the U.S. Navy with rear hinged fuselage decking, used the fully cowled 100 h.p. Lycoming O-235-C engine with an electrical system, and redesigned landing gear.[1]
After the war, Piper dropped the J- designation system in exchange for the PA- system, and the J-5C became the PA-12 "Super Cruiser". The Super Cruiser was more popular than the basic J-5A, with 3,759 being built.[2] They sold for $2,995 each. In 1947, two PA-12s flew around the world, and the worst mechanical failure they suffered was a cracked tailwheel. More than a thousand still fly today.
Piper also produced a four-seat variant of the Super Cruiser with a 115-hp engine. It was designated the PA-14 Family Cruiser. It was the least successful of the three Cruiser designs in terms of aircraft sold, with 238 being built in 1948/49,[2] and only about one hundred remain in existence.
Variants
- J-5
- 75hp Continental A-75-8 powered variant.
- J-5A
- Continental A-75-9 powered variant.
- J-5A-80
- J-5As modified with a 80hp Continental A-80-8 engine.
- J-5B
- 75hp Lycoming O-145-B powered variant.
- J-5C
- 100hp Lycoming O-235-C powered variant.
- J-5CA
- Prototype ambulance variant produced as the HE-1 for the United States Navy.
- J-5CO
- Prototype observation variant, later modified as the L-4X to be a prototype for the military L-14 version.
- J-5D
- 1946 built aircraft with a 125hp Lycoming engine.
Military designations
- YL-14
- Prototype liaison aircraft for the United States Army Air Force, five built.
- L-14
- Production variant of the YL-14, order for 845 cancelled and nine under construction completed for the civilian market.
- AE-1
- HE-1 redesignated in 1943 in the Ambulance category.
- HE-1
- Hospital variant for the United States Navy with hinged fuselage top for stretcher access, 100 built later re-designated AE-1.
- UC-83
- Four J-5A aircraft impressed into military service in Panama later becoming the L-4F.
- L-4F
- Four UC-83s re-designated and an additional 39 J-5As impressed.
- L-4G
- J-5B impressed into military service, 34 aircraft.
Specifications (J-5)
Data from Peperell, 1987, p. 43
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: two passengers
- Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
- Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
- Empty weight: 830 lb (376 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,450 lb (658 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming GO-145-C2 four cylinder, horizontally-opposed aircraft engine, 75 hp (56 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden
Performance
- Maximum speed: 96 mph (154 km/h; 83 kn)
- Cruise speed: 86 mph (75 kn; 138 km/h)
- Stall speed: 42 mph (36 kn; 68 km/h)
- Range: 430 mi (374 nmi; 692 km)
- Service ceiling: 10,200 ft (3,109 m)
- Rate of climb: 460 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
References
- Notes
- ^ Peperell, 1987, p. 43
- ^ a b Simpson, 2005, p. 430
- Bibliography
- Peperell, Roger (1987). Piper Aircraft and their forerunners. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-149-5.
- Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
External links
USN air ambulances pre-1962
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AE
No other designations were assigned in this sequence
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Main sequence
1925-1962 |
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Revived sequence
2005-2006 |
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See also: Post-1962 list
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