Piper J-5

J-5 Cub Cruiser
	Piper J-5
Role	Multipurpose light civil aircraft
Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
First flight	July 1939
Produced	1940-1946
Number built	1,507
Developed from	Piper J-3 Cub
Variants	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 a wider fuselage with the pilot sitting in the front seat and two passengers sitting in the rear seat. Equipped with a 75-hp Continental engine the plane's cruising speed was 75 mph. Though officially a three-seater, it would be more accurately described as a "two-and-a-half-seater", as two adults would find themselves quite cramped in the wider rear seat. The Cruiser sold for $1,798 when it was first designed.

Production of the three models of the J-5 (-A, -B, -C), fall into two categories that differ considerably. The obvious difference can be seen in the landing gear. Early versions, of which 783 were built between 1940 and early 1942, have external bungees. Those built from 1944 to 1946 included design changes developed for the United States Navy HE-1 flying ambulance, and these models have internal bungees. In August 2018, 327 J-5s remained on the Federal Aviation Administration registry.^[1]

Design and development

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 Military O-235-2 or Civilian O-235-B engine with an electrical system, and redesigned landing gear.^[2]

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.^[3]

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,^[3] and only about one hundred remain in existence.^{[citation needed]}

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 an 80hp Continental A-80-8 engine.
J-5B: 75hp Lycoming O-145-B powered variant.
J-5C: 100hp Lycoming O-235-B 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 (138 km/h, 75 kn)
Stall speed: 42 mph (68 km/h, 36 kn)
Range: 430 mi (690 km, 370 nmi)
Service ceiling: 10,200 ft (3,100 m)
Rate of climb: 460 ft/min (2.3 m/s)

References

Notes

^ "FAA Registry : Piper J-5". Federal Aviation Administration. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018..
^ Peperell, 1987, p. 43, FAA ATC 725
^ 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

Detailed photos - Piper L-14 Army Cruiser

[1] "FAA Registry : Piper J-5". Federal Aviation Administration. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018..

[Peperell1987p43-2] Peperell, 1987, p. 43, FAA ATC 725

[Simpson2005p430-3] Simpson, 2005, p. 430

v t e USN hospital aircraft designations pre-1962
Piper	HE
Loening	HL

v t e United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 C-47F C-47T AC-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70 C-70B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 C-77B–D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-83A C-83B C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97 KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-117D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 C-121F EC-121 C-122 C-123 C-123A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127² C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 C-130J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 NC-131H C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137² YC-137 (I) YC-137 (II) C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142
Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7² C-7 RC-7 C-8 C-9 C-10² C-10 KC-10 C-11 C-12 RC-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20² C-20A–D C-20F–J C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-27J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36³ C-37 C-37B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-767B C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to multiple types • ³ Unconfirmed

v t e Certified/factory-built aircraft manufactured in Canada
Airbus Canada	A220
Avian Industries	2/180 Gyroplane
Avro Canada	CF-100 Canuck C-102 Jetliner CF-105 Arrow VZ-9 Avrocar
Bell Textron	212 214ST 230 407 412 427 429 GlobalRanger 505 Jet Ranger X 525 Relentless
Boeing Aircraft of Canada	C-204 Thunderbird A-213 Totem 40H-4 Shark PB2B Catalina
Bombardier	CRJ100/200/440/700/900/1000 Global Express/Global Q400 CS100/300 Challenger 300/600/850 Dash 8
Bristol/McDonald Brothers	Anson Mk.V
Canadair	CL-4 North Star CL-28 Argus CL-41 Tutor CL-44 Yukon CL-84 Dynavert CL-215 Waterbomber CL-415 Super Scooper CL-600 Challenger Cosmopolitan Canso Freedom Fighter Sabre Silver Star Starfighter
Canadian Aerodrome Company	Baddeck No. 1 Baddeck No. 2 Hubbard Monoplane
Canadian Aeroplanes/ Toronto Curtiss Aeroplanes	JN-4C Canuck C-1 Canada Avro 504 F5L
Canadian Associated Aircraft	Hampden
Canadian Car and Foundry	Maple Leaf Trainer II Anson Mk.II & Mk.V T-34A Mentor CBY-3 Loadmaster SBW Helldiver FDB-1 Goblin/Delfín Hurricane Mk.X, XI & XII Norseman Mk.V & VII Harvard Mk.IIB and Mk.4
Canadian Vickers	Vancouver Vanessa Varuna Vedette Velos Vigil Vista Avro 504N Avro 552 CH-300 Pacemaker PBV-1 Canso HS-3L FC-2 Super Universal Delta Stranraer Viking IV
Cub Aircraft	J-2 Cub J-3 Cub J-4 Cub Coupe J-5 Cub Cruiser
de Havilland Canada	DHC-1 Chipmunk DHC-2 Beaver DHC-3 Otter DHC-4 Caribou DHC-5 Buffalo DHC-6 Twin Otter Dash 7 Dash 8 DH.60 Gipsy Moth DH.82C Tiger Moth & Menasco Moth DH.83C Fox Moth DH.98 Mosquito CS2F Tracker
Diamond Aircraft	DA20 DA40-180 Star
Fairchild	34-42 45-80 Sekani F-11 Husky Super 71 51 71 Cornell FC-2 Bolingbroke HS-2L SBF Helldiver
Federal Aircraft	Anson Mk.II
Fleet	1,2,5 & 21 7 Fawn 16 Finch 50 Freighter 60 Fort 80 Canuck Cornell
Found	FBA-1 FBA-2 Centennial 100
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm	Bo 105
National Research Council	tailless glider
National Steel Car	Lysander
Noorduyn	Norseman Harvard Mk.II
Ontario Provincial Air Service	CA-6M Airsedan
Ottawa Car and Aircraft	Atlas Siskin Tutor Prefect
Reid/Curtiss-Reid	Courier Rambler
Saunders	ST-27 ST-28
Victory Aircraft	Lancaster Mk.X Lancastrian Lincoln Mk.XV York C.1 Special
Viking Air	DHC-6 Twin Otter CL-515 First Responder

J-5 Cub Cruiser

Piper J-5
Role	Multipurpose light civil aircraft Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
First flight	July 1939
Produced	1940-1946
Number built	1,507
Developed from	Piper J-3 Cub
Variants	Piper PA-12