This 1946 Piper J-3 Cub Is a Basic, Beautiful, Antique ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub.

Even though 87 years have passed since the Piper J-3 Cub’s introduction, the small, fabric-covered, high-wing two-seater remains an object of desire for many pilots. Those who have flown one may continue to enthuse about the experience for years afterward.

Pilots who learned to fly in Cubs tend to consider them the finest trainers ever built. Many people who have never flown in light aircraft still know what a Cub is—the quintessential light airplane.

They might be old, but Cubs have never truly gone out of style. Today they appear to be enjoying a renaissance thanks to their affordability, old-school simplicity, and significant social media presence. Watching videos of pilots flying Cubs out of turf fields compels others to give it a try. Doing so is easier than ever because the J-3, like several other early GA aircraft, qualify in the light sport category. 

A decade ago my instructor restored a J-3 similar to today’s subject aircraft, and I had the pleasure of logging stick time in the classic bird. There really is nothing quite like lifting off in a J-3—which never feels as if it is moving fast enough to fly—and cruising, low and slow, over farms, fields, forests, and even suburbs. Looking down through the aircraft’s open window and door will make you feel about as close to a bird as you can get.

Pilots looking for a classic, collectible and practical basic aircraft that looks great and is a joy to fly should consider this 1946 Piper J-3 Cub, which is available for $65,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.