Piper Cub Fans - Charlie Kulp, "The Flying Farmer" short video - DVD's available.

[HopeHoops]

http://www.youtube.com/user/frederickpauls#p/u/2/A2BPcurREpo

There are two DVD's available at:

http://theflyingfarmer.com/

The "First Video" on the right has his actual show where he plays the grounds keeper. The second, "Piper Cub Road Trip", is more on the "how it is done" side with respect to taking it apart and loading it for travel. Charlie Kulp is THE Piper Cub legend, and unfortunately he was forced to retire by the FAA because they didn't think an 80 year old man should be flying anymore.

[hayu_lol]

1. Thanks for digging this one up...

I learned to fly in a J-3. The students were carefully taught not to fly like that...lol. What a show. Doing a loop was unheard of as the aircraft was not stressed for such...had gravity feed fuel as well. If you attempted inverted flight, your engine quit.

If you got in trouble, just get your hands off the stick, feet off the pedals, and if you had enough altitude, the plane would correct whatever your fault was. Only downer was to fly over almost any highway and watch the cars passing you. A very forgiving airplane.

A group of people formed the Lackland AFB flying club in '54. The J-3 was our first airplane...cost the club $700. Now they go for more than $50,000 I understand. Later we obtained a '47 Luscombe(side by side seating and metal fuselage) and a similar year Aronica Champion.

[bluedigger]

2. Very neat!

I learned in this Piper Clipper PA-16 in the early 80's. We bought it for about $7500, and I eventually solo'd in it. Basically a four seater Cub. It was a lot of fun!

[guitar man]

3. That's badass!

In the late 60s early 70s, my dad had a Piper PA-20 Pacer. IIRC, the only real difference between a Clipper and a Pacer is that the Clipper had control sticks and the Pacer had control wheels.

[hayu_lol]

4. All the cub models are somewhat confusing...

since many different models were being produced and certified at the same time. My first lessons were in the PA-18 supercub. The school I started with had both the 18 and the PA-18 that included a more powerful engine and full flaps...this one was in use as a cropduster. Could have been a PA-19 but I don't remember.

Right at solo time, I changed to the J-3 and the Lackland Flying Club(since we collectively owned the plane, it was much cheaper than the PA-18 at the school. Soloed at 8 hours...took about 2 hours more since I changed breeds.

The Tri-Pacer came out at about the same time(first tricycle gear instead of a tail dragger.

Good honest airplanes...all of them.

[bluedigger]

6. Thanks!

Piper made about 5600 or so Clippers in the late 40's. Pan American sued them over use of the name "Clipper" so they changed the sticks to control wheels and voila, the Pacer was born. IIRC they also added dual brakes. The Clipper only had them on the pilot's side, which made for some exciting landings during training, as only I had them. I only ground looped it once, taking out a single runway lamp. Luckily my instructor also ran the strip. Cost me $55.:rofl:

[billyclem]

5. Very nice find. I wonder how many learned in a J-3?

I did, and to keep it interesting there is a flight school in Arlington, Washington that still uses a J-3. I have a distinct fondness for sticks and taildraggers, so much so that about 90% of my hours are in such.