1941 Piper J3 cub

Description

Fly America’s ultimate aviation classic, N388881 J3 Piper Cub has been lovingly maintained for 85 years & is outfitted for your ease & comfort in modern airspace, but for the pure-at-heart every single enhancement can easily be removed to take her back to August 1941. Her annual was done 7 September 2026. Total time: 4516 hrs; total Engine & Prop time: 628 hrs. N388881 is unusually well equipped not only with a 90-horsepower engine but a power supply that will last many more hours than the increased endurance. Installed Transponder with ADS-B out greatly extends your airspace. We’ve operated from ORF Class C for the past two years & were even lucky enough to fly into the Navy’s Oceana Air Show, needing only 300 feet to land on the 10,000-foot runway. No electric starter but the original Armstrong starter is as dependable as it was in 1941, usually on the first easy pull with little effort. Wheels up in a jiffy with excellent climb. The original 12-gallon tank has been augmented with an 8-gallon wing tank, a reassurance when you’ve perhaps stretched things a bit farther than you should have. N388881 is STC'd for MOGAS but 100 low lead is a much better choice. Avionics: you’ll find the “panel” mounted flip-flop VHR radio & ADS-B out transponder with their supporting rechargeable power supply overcome the only objection one could have flying in modern airspace. We’ve used hand-held transceivers, but the transmission power depletes rapidly, wires are all over the place, radio is inconvenient to hold & falls off your lap when you’re handling stick pedals, carb heat, throttles & trying to self-announce all at the same time. This is one very professional installation by an A&P/IA who had excellent rapport with the FAA FSDO. All this has been done without a single machine screw, weld, cut or tap in the airframe! For being 85 years old, N388881’s interior is exactly as pictured, it’s in excellent shape without tears or damage, as original as it was in 1941. Her exterior was recovered in 1992 & we’ve proudly owner her for 23 years but it’s time to share her with a new family. If you’ve yet to experience this original flying machine you’re in for a real treat: she leaps off the ground, is nimble at the controls, has lovely visibility & fresh air, lands delicately on grass fields. She’s easy to see hangared in Newport News, VA KPHF airport & is ready to fly you whenever you’re ready.

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I am not a broker.