Piper Super Cub Series Aircraft for Sale
The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is one of the most iconic and beloved light aircraft ever built — a tandem two-seat, fabric-covered taildragger that has served bush pilots, ranchers, flight instructors, glider tow operators, backcountry explorers, and recreational pilots for over seven decades. Introduced in 1949 as a direct evolution of the original Piper J-3 Cub, the Super Cub incorporated a more powerful engine, stronger structure, and improved performance while preserving the elemental, honest flying qualities that made the original Cub a legend. The Super Cub's ability to operate from extremely short, rough, and unimproved strips — combined with its straightforward maintenance and gentle handling — has made it the definitive bush plane for North American wilderness operations and an enduring favorite worldwide.
History and Development
Piper Aircraft produced the PA-18 Super Cub from 1949 through 1994 — a 45-year production run that yielded more than 9,000 aircraft across multiple engine variants. The Super Cub was powered by Lycoming or Continental engines ranging from 90 to 150 horsepower, with the 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320 becoming the standard for the most capable bush and backcountry variants. Military versions were designated L-18 and L-21, serving as liaison and reconnaissance aircraft with the US Army and allied forces. The Super Cub was also license-produced in Germany as the Dornier Do 27 variant and in other countries. After Piper ceased production, the type certificate was acquired by Cub Crafters, which continues to produce the PA-18-150 as a type-certificated aircraft alongside its own Carbon Cub derivatives.
Design and Performance
The Super Cub's fabric-over-steel-tube construction is simple, repairable in the field, and exceptionally robust for the loads imposed by rough-field operations. Large slotted flaps allow approach speeds as low as 40 mph, enabling operations from strips that would be inaccessible to most other aircraft. With tundra tires installed, the PA-18 can land on gravel bars, beaches, meadows, and mountain plateaus that no wheeled aircraft has any business approaching. Float-equipped Super Cubs operate from rivers, lakes, and coastal waters throughout Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and New Zealand. The 150-horsepower variant climbs at better than 800 feet per minute and cruises comfortably at 115 mph — modest numbers by modern standards, but entirely adequate for the type of flying Super Cub owners typically pursue.
Super Cub Variants and Modifications
The Super Cub market offers enormous variety: stock 90-horsepower examples for pilots seeking economy, standard 150-horsepower bush planes in all configurations from wheels to floats to skis, and heavily modified examples with 180-horsepower Lycoming engines, custom wing modifications (Robertson STOL kits, extended wings), improved fuel systems, modern avionics, and strengthened landing gear for aggressive short-field operations. Many Super Cubs have been rebuilt and modified to a degree that makes them substantially different from their original configuration — thorough documentation review is essential before purchase.
Buying a Piper Super Cub
Pre-purchase inspection by a tailwheel-experienced A&P mechanic with fabric aircraft knowledge is essential. Fabric condition, steel tube corrosion inspection, wing attachment fittings, control cable condition, and engine health are the primary evaluation criteria. Logbook review should confirm airworthiness directive compliance, major repair documentation (Form 337), and the history of any modifications. Super Cubs with clear histories, well-maintained fabric, low-time engines, and appropriate tundra tire or float installations command strong prices — the market for quality examples remains robust. Connect with the Piper Cub Club and Super Cub Pilots Association for type-specific expertise and community resources.
Browse Piper Super Cub Series Aircraft for Sale on Airplane Trade
Search our listings to find PA-18 Super Cubs in all configurations — wheel planes, float planes, ski planes, and tundra tire-equipped backcountry aircraft. List your Super Cub today and connect with serious buyers who understand this legendary aircraft's unique capabilities and enduring value.
