Warbird Information Exchange

"Neil Rutherford in his Piper J3 Cub, CF-BUR, 1949."

This picture caption is incorrect.
Everyone will argue with me on this one but the aircraft is NOT a Piper J3 Cub
Anyone care to try to guess what it is

-

J-2?

If that's not a J-3 it must be a Prospector.

-Tim

CORRECT !!

It is a Cub Aircraft Company J-3 Prospector
The easy way to tell is by the "arrow " instead of the standard Piper "lightening bolt"
Also, most of the Prospectors had Canadian registration that started with CF-B_ _ . The other Cub pictured is a US built one.
Cub Aircraft Company, which was located in Hamilton Ontario built 139 Prospectors before the Dope Shop burnt down.
They had no Cub emblem on the tail but I have seen some that had the "Prospector" name painted in the same location.
The factory was located in the city and they also had a hanger at the Hamilton Municipal Airport on Reid Ave. That was the second airport in Hamilton.
Mt Hope is the third.
There are still some Canadian Prospectors around.
FYI they cannot be sold to the US because their type certificate is not recognized in the US
The first " Cub " in Canada was CF-ANT, an E2 Cub which I am allowed to fly when ever I want

Interesting. I didn't know that about the "Prospector". I presume it had alterations for wilderness flying. What were they?

Great pictures though.

Dave

Great photos! I especially like the picture of JU-52 CF-ARM. I am always amazed that something that big, on floats no less, could fly with that one little Buzzard out front.

Scott

Dave Hadfield wrote:Interesting. I didn't know that about the "Prospector". I presume it had alterations for wilderness flying. What were they?

Great pictures though.

Dave

Dave

No alterations.
They were a standard J-3 but with a distinct paint scheme and name to identify them as Cub Aircraft Ltd built.
Cub Aircraft also built J-2 and J-4 aircraft as well as wooden skis.
In my collection, I have two sets of original Cub Aircraft Ltd skis. One set still retains the original brass company data plate.
The CUB / PIPER Dealership was maintained up into the 2000's by Rick and Marty White at Peninsulair at Hamilton. Their Dad , Glenn White learned to fly at the old Municipal Airport and eventually became the Piper Dealer.
One day I hope to locate and purchase a Canadian Cub and restore as it should look. Almost bought one back in the1990's but passed it up

Too bad! I assumed it would have the back seat removed, increased cargo space, a spot for fishing rods, another for an over-and-under shotgun/rifle, another spot for tools and a blowpot -- you get the idea.

Hijacking the thread, yeah, it would be cool to own a J-3. But right now Robin is looking for a Cornell, and there's a limit to how big a hangar I can scrounge.

Dave