Vehicle Description

 

This is a fabulous Cub.  And a uniquely exciting Sport Pilot qualified LSA!

 

It has a long and wonderful history.  It’s been used for aerobatics, airshows, and competitions for 50 years.  N40935 was originally turned into a Reed Clip Wing Cub in the ‘50s with an 85-HP Continental.  Then, around 1970, it was given a Swick-T conversion, with Taylorcraft clipped wings mated to the J-3 fuselage.  The work was done by Swick himself (some old photos of the build process go with the plane).  In 1982 it was then upgraded to a 150 HP Lycoming.  All of this work resulted in a custom one-off airplane…with many unique one-off parts and design elements.  

 

N40935 has an Experimental Exhibition airworthiness certificate.  It is an unusually un-restrictive certificate…no restrictions on airports, etc.  The current a/w cert was issued in 1982 – this is the most recent of several issued to the aircraft during its lifespan.  The file of papers documenting the various stages of the plane’s life (on CD from the FAA) runs about 200 pages, going back to the original Piper a/w cert issued in 1946, and running through all the conversations and modifications.  It makes for great reading.

 

I purchased N40935 from its previous owner last year.  He had owned it for 20 years, and used it for sportsman aerobatic competitions, as well as recreational aerobatics.  He had just completed a 5-year rebuild.  It has a newly rebuilt engine (about 15 hrs TT, just off mineral oil), and completely new covering and paint (Stitts process).  Reinforced fuselage (in the tail section, for snap maneuvers)…battery relocated to the tail for c/g…an extensive restoration after many years of recreational and competition acro in the ‘80s and ‘90s.  It is clean, functional, and full of history…not a hangar queen, but a real, unique, working, historic aerobatic sportplane.

 

Since I purchased it, it’s had about 10 hours put on it by a good friend of mine who is a nationally ranked airshow and competition pilot (4th at the nationals last year, and on the American team to the World competition in Poland this coming summer).  He feels it’s about the best “pure fun” sportplane he’s ever flown, and also a great little airshow plane.  He’s available to talk about it in more detail with seriously interested parties.

 

Gross acro weight is 1200LBS, so it is within LSA specs.  Stall is in the mid-30’s.  Cruise is about 115.  As for climb, the plane is at pattern altitude by the time it’s about halfway down our 5000 ft runway.   Solo from the back seat, as with all Cubs.  Full inverted systems – flop tube on the fuselage tank, inverted oil system.  Ellison throttle body.  Straight pipes – not too loud, but not quiet, either.  Great power and handling for aerobatics…good vertical penetraton…docile stall…great, easy landing behavior.

 

Equipment is basic – you can see from the photos.  Full electric system – generator, electric start (the starter was added years after the 150 conversion, it used to be a hand-prop 150 horse Lycoming).  No headliner or interior finish.  12 gal fuse tank, plus two five gallon wing tanks (22 gal total – 12 gal header tank only for acro).  About 8 gal/hr at cruise, but cruising isn’t the point of this plane.  Full skylight.  Full (but old) acro harnesses (should probably be replaced soon).  Baggage sling.  Basic instruments (A/S altimeter compass VSI).

 

In all, this is a wonderful, unique, historic plane.  It should go to a serious enthusiast who will treat it properly and use it for recreational acro, acro competitions, or (even better) for airshow work.  I am glad to answer questions, or to put serious buyers in touch with my friend Rob to discuss its flying qualities in detail. 

 

With respect to price…there is a reserve on this auction…I have a lot invested in the plane, and I expect it to bring at least what a decent Decathalon fetches…for this much more interesting machine.

 

Thanks very much for looking at the Cub.  If you are seriously interested please email me…I will work with serious buyers/bidders.  I want to see this piece of aviation history wind up in good hands.  Best wishes and happy flying

 

 

Question & Answer

Answered On

Q:

Extremely nice Cub!!! Curious if this once belonged to Dave Watkins (Watson?) based at Marlboro Mass back in the mid-1970s? All the best. If a looker knows what this is, it'll sell for its full worth.

 

Apr-04-06

A:

Thanks for your note. To my knowledge, no, the plane was based in the southest at that point. It looked very different too. Still had the 85-hp, original Cub cowl with exposed cylinders, all white paint.

 

Q:

Why are you selling this airplane after just one year? What is the stall speed (tested) after the Swick mod? What is the Vne speed? What speed do you enter over the top maneuvers such as loop, cloverleaf, cuban-eight, immelman, etc.? Does the experimental certificate give me the freedom to add to the instrument panel freely, as with a homebuilt? Does it have a working transponder? I appreciate your help. Thanks!

 

Apr-02-06

A:

I have too many aircraft presently. Attached as I am to the plane, I need to downsize, and there are two others that are more my focus for my recreational (non-aerobatic) flying. Stall speed (indicated) is mid-30s. There isn't an official VNE speed. Entry speeds for most maneuvers of the type you list are around 130. I can't go into the full detail of what is allowed under experimental certification here, it would be best to check with the FAA. There is a custom mounting bracket for a Garmin transponder and encoder, and wiring, and an antenna.

 

Q:

Is there a time limit for inverted flight? Is a smoke system included? Does it have comm? Is it ready to fly away, or will it need any equipment updated before flight? Thanks

 

Apr-02-06

A:

Full inverted systems, so you can stay upsside down if you really want to. No smoke system, I had thought about adding that if we were going to do any airshows with it. Easy to mount, as you can see from the pics. I use an Icom handheld and a battery intercom...there is wiring to plug the handheld into the electrical system...but I don't. One could mount a small comm e.g. a micro air. Yes it is absolutely ready to fly away (and to fly airshows)...100%.

 

Q:

WHAT IT THE TAKEOFF ROLL SAY AT 4000 FT UNTIL YOU BRAKE GROUND THANKS TOM

 

Apr-02-06

A:

I cant' give you an exacti figure, I'm sorry. It takes off like a Cub with 150 HP -- very short roll, less than a few hundred feet

 

Q:

I am currently flying a Pitts S-2A and am interested in purchasing the plane (my Pitts sports the Marion Cole paint scheme so it would be a nice stable mate :)). I didn't see a G meter in the panel..is there one? Are there any repairs in the logbook indiating that the airframe has beeen overstressed? If not how do you know what loads you or your friend have placed on the aircraft? What loads is the airframe stressed for? It's a great looking bird.

 

Apr-02-06

A:

There is a g-meter but it needs replacement. We have not stressed it past simple sportsman levels. The previous owner was an accomplished pilot and it's my belief that the plane has always been kept within its limits. There is no record of repairs indicating overstress. The plane is pretty much an open book, as I'm sure you know...everything is visible, and there is no evidence of anything other than withing-limits use. As to ultimate load factors, the honest truth is that there is nothing that fully specs that in the history/documents. Swick built it for airshows. The structure is extremely robust. I'm sure it's capable of well beyond the normal +6 -3 limits. Just how much so, I can't really tell you, as it's a one-off, so there isn't an underlying set of limit tests on the design.

 

Q:

It seems like I've seen this paint scheme before?

 

Mar-31-06

A:

I'm not sure what your question is. Glad to help with whatever info you need. Thanks.

 

Q:

What is the GW of the aircraft, either empty or with the 12 gal header tank full? In other words, is it suitable for acro training/instruction? Thank you, Mark Williams

 

Mar-31-06

A:

The plane will frankly carry as much as you want to put in it, including two large adults and some baggage. It's been used for lots of two-person acro through the years.

 

Q:

hi nice ship; I have a 1998 mini 500 helicopter 50hr looks runs flys like new with set new side doors still in box red or a 56 chv nomad sw all org needs restored. would you do any trades or part trades ? tks larry. pa 17724 have pics can send. ph 1-570-673-3209

 

Mar-30-06

A:

Thanks for your offer, but no, no trades, please. Best wishes

 

Q:

I have some questions re:Sport pilot with a experimental exibition a/w-wasnt the gross weight increased with the 150 Hp engine? Thanks give me a call or e-mail your # as i am quite interested. Glenn

 

Mar-30-06

A:

Gross is specified as 1200LBS. The airplane can clearly handle much more than that, but, for certification purposes, that is how it is listed. I believe that Sport Pilot privleges can be exercised in any aircraft conforming to the performance limitations. But I probably shouldn't have raised that issue in the listing, it is a minor side issue with respect to this aircrft