A thousand years ago, after just turning 18, I drove to a small airport in Iowa searching for a J-3 to buy. Although I knew absolutely nothing about J-3s, I knew I wanted one. The operator had one for sale in the back of an old hangar. It had been in a tornado, and during the rebuild, it had received lots of spar splices and interesting welds, as well as a bright yellow new cover. I think it also was given new struts, cowling, engine, prop, and so forth. I was in love and bought it.
I flew it home, and my new J-3 friends quickly pointed out that I didn't really have a J-3, even though the paperwork told me it was a 1938 model. Everyone quickly pointed out that it only had a 1100 pound gross weight, J-2 wings, ailerons and tail, and a number of things that didn't look right on a J-3. I was embarrassed but flew my airplane anyway for a number of years, and it always passed an annual.
But what interested me the most were the fabric seals that covered the gap between the wing and aileron. It certainly was different than other J-3s, and after all of these years, I wonder if it was a one of a kind, or if early Cubs had such seals. I've never found out and never saw another like it. Don't remember any paperwork concerning it, either.
I remember it being quick off the ground compared to other J-3s, but that wasn't always so good, because it could fly at speeds slower than it could be controlled with ailerons.
Has anyone ever seen a J-3 with fabric aileron gap seals, especially an early one?
Bill
I flew it home, and my new J-3 friends quickly pointed out that I didn't really have a J-3, even though the paperwork told me it was a 1938 model. Everyone quickly pointed out that it only had a 1100 pound gross weight, J-2 wings, ailerons and tail, and a number of things that didn't look right on a J-3. I was embarrassed but flew my airplane anyway for a number of years, and it always passed an annual.
But what interested me the most were the fabric seals that covered the gap between the wing and aileron. It certainly was different than other J-3s, and after all of these years, I wonder if it was a one of a kind, or if early Cubs had such seals. I've never found out and never saw another like it. Don't remember any paperwork concerning it, either.
I remember it being quick off the ground compared to other J-3s, but that wasn't always so good, because it could fly at speeds slower than it could be controlled with ailerons.
Has anyone ever seen a J-3 with fabric aileron gap seals, especially an early one?
Bill
