The Piper J-3 Cub is without a doubt the icon of light plane flying, yet today few modern pilots have experienced flight in one.
 
 In construction the J-3 is typical tube and fabric from the 1930's era that used several engine types, but the most typical being the Continental 65hp and 85hp. One aspect of the Cub that sets it apart from other light planes is the ability to fly with the door open on one side.
 
 The flight characteristics of the Cub are very much like that of a powered glider. On T/O in a light wing the Cub jumps off the ground in less than 200ft and the landing can be accomplished in the same length or less by a skilled plot. In flight the Cub is very well balanced and has very nice control harmony and demonstrates an uncanny ability to fly in the "slow" regime.
 
 The Cub is a slow cross country aircraft with groundspeed dictated by the direction the wind blows. Most Cub flying is restricted to the area around the local airport that it is based at due to this, which is probably good since the seats are not condusive to long cross country flying.
 
 In a glide the Cub feels as though it is floating; and with the use of a forward slip can be accurately spot landed in a space few other aircraft can attempt. Stalls when done power-off are docile, but with high nose attitudes can produce a very sharp break. Spins can be entered but are difficult to maintain after one turn due to the fact that the high lift airfoil begins to fly causing the spin to become a spiral (which can be flown out of as opposed to a "spin" recovery).
 
 On the negative side, the Cub has slightly poorer visibility than other monoplanes of the same class because the seats are located beneath the wing structure and due to the extensive "bird cage" fuselage structure. In addition the original expander tube drum brakes are fraught with problems and unreliable. Although not used for much more than the run-up weak brakes can cause a problem in the tight confines of the taxi area when combined with the poor vision over the nose.
 
 Today the Cub is disappearing from the flight line as a training aircraft. It is now more of a private airplane for the sportsman who can afford to purchase one; about $25,000 and up. This is to high a price for what you get, but what you get is an airplane you can enjoy on any day.