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| To compete with the expanding range of lightplanes offered by other aircraft manufacturers, Piper produced in 1938 the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe. Retaining basically the same airframe as the J-3 Cub, this had a small increase in wing span and introduced improved landing gear with a fully-castoring tailwheel, hydraulic brakes and-speed fairings for the wheels. As powered initially by a 37kW Continental A50-1 it had the designation J-4, but introduction of the 48kW Continental A65-1 or -8 engine in 1940 brought redesignation as the J-4A, and later of the 56kW Continental A75-9 as the J-4E. In 1939 Piper introduced the J-4B, differing only in powerplant which initially, was a 45kW Franklin 4AC-171, but that was soon replaced by the 48kW Franklin 4AC-176-B2 without any change in designation. Last of the J-4s was the version powered by Avco Lycoming engines, the 41kW O-145-A1 or -A2, or 48kW O-145-B1, both of these Cub Coupes having the designation J-4F. Production of J-4s reached 1,250, and during World War II 17 J-4Es were impressed for service with the USAAF under the designation L-4E.
| MODEL | Piper J-4F |
| ENGINE | 1 x Avco Lycoming O-145-B1 flat-four piston engine, 48kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 590 kg | 1301 lb |
| Empty weight | 336 kg | 741 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.02 m | 36 ft 2 in |
| Length | 6.86 m | 23 ft 6 in |
| Height | 2.08 m | 7 ft 10 in |
| Wing area | 17.00 m2 | 182.99 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 161 km/h | 100 mph |
| Ceiling | 3660 m | 12000 ft |
| Range | 547 km | 340 miles |
| Ernie Morris, e-mail, 13.04.2013 21:47 My first airplne ride was in a J-4 Cub Coupe at the old Moorestown airport in Moorestown New Jersey in 1953 the Pilots name was Stanley Dan.Thousands of hours and many aircraft later I rember that flight as though it was yesterday. reply | | Dick Munro, e-mail, 11.03.2013 05:32 I have one under homebuilt category with a Lycoming 0320. large cuffed wing , super cub tail feathers, cessna 180 yokes and Edo 2000 floats. PERFORMANCE, and then some!!!! reply | | zelememiguel65@hotmail.com, 21.12.2012 05:32 I wonder if anyone has the plans for the J4 and I see q is a good plane for the actions and performances that have and I would like contruilo as amateur. If someone takes the system pdf I thank you. Sincerely Yours: Miguel Angel Zeleme. (zelememiguel65@hotmail.com) reply | | Jim, e-mail, 13.10.2012 18:43 I purchased a 1940 J4 to use to teach my children and our youth pastor to fly. One has soloed so far. I'd like to find an "owners manual or a operating handbook". Can anyone help me? reply | |
| | John, e-mail, 19.09.2012 19:36 I have a J4E Could someone set the tail on a bath scale and give the weight thanks reply | | budd Henderscheid, e-mail, 28.05.2012 04:26 I AGREE WITH ONE COMMENT. THE J4 IS PIPERS BEST KEPT SECRET
92 MILES CRUISE AN HOUR ON ABOUT 3 GALS HOUR. DOORS ON EACH SIDE. SLIDING SIDE WINDOWS. A DREAM TO FLY ON SKIIS
YOU CAN FLY THIS AIRPLANE BACKWORDS IF YOU CAN STAND IT AND ARNT IN A HURRY reply | | Chuck Jewell, e-mail, 30.06.2011 23:51 I learned to fly in 1969 and needed something of my own to fly. I saw an add in the paper of an antique airplane for sale. It was a 1941 J-4-E in a T hanger on a small field. It had a variable pitch prop that kept backing off and had to be held in by hand. I do not think it was standard on a J-4-E so when I purchased it I had it replaced with a fixed wooden prop. I haven`t see it stated, but the J-3 had a tandem seating and the J-4-E is a side by side. in 1941 Piper tried to attract car owners by adding chrome. The control sticks were chrome and on the cowling they had 3 strips of chrome on each side. The wings were large and did not require any flaps. In a 30 mph head wind you can hold the ground speed to 0 mph!! It is a sweet plane to fly and whenever I took an instructor up for my Bi annual check ride they spent more time flying it than I did. I completely restored it in 1971 (covered it with seconite, not sure of the spelling, It is a fiberglass cloth. I flew it for many years and finally sold it. By the way, I think Piper put a nose wheel on the J-4 and called it the Tri Pacer?? reply | | mel, e-mail, 25.03.2011 18:28 I flew one around wtby ,ct airport for an hour. It flew at 6o mpr glided at 60 mph aan stlled at 35 mph. A clumsy old dog reply | | Stanley Olson, e-mail, 24.12.2010 04:32 I used to have a 1941 J4 in the early fifties. Built up some time in it and sold it for about 500 bucks, about what I gave for it. Last I saw it went to Canadian Registry, it's US N# NC41199. Nice little plane. If you see it somewhere, tell it hello from from me, I still remember you. reply | | Malcolm D. Quick, e-mail, 13.12.2010 23:00 1946 had my first ride in J-4, started work at local airport in exchange for dual time in N-24709. !971 retrired as pilot USAF. Found a J-4 to restore. It turned out to be my first ride and lesson acft. Restored it to 95% show and flew for several years until forced to sell for $1200.00. Have lost track of it. Anyone with info on it, I would love to hear where she is now.
A real joy to fly. reply | | brad, e-mail, 26.11.2010 20:57 Currently in process of building a J4. I have most parts. Looking for anyone with a fusalage frame in any condition. please contact me at sitfly1@yahoo.com if you know of any or other pieces /parts. reply | | GEORGE SOLOMON, e-mail, 14.10.2010 03:29 PAT In 1946 we bought 27899 in boise for the sume of 600.WE sold it in 1949 to guy named ART FLETCHER who washed the gear out.The last I heard of it in was in nampa.Would love to have picture of it
344 sw 177th st SEATTLE WA 98166 thanks George reply | | Peter Clifford, e-mail, 23.09.2010 02:58 Anybody interested in a copy of a Piper Coupe J4 Service Manual covering care and operation of the j4? I also have a parts manual. They both have detail drawing and technical data. I got these in the mid 1980's and I moving. These will be very useful to a j4 owner. Please contact me vai e mail if interested. reply |
| Al Wrisley, e-mail, 21.09.2010 16:49 I owned a J4 in around 1958 with another gentleman. We paid $1200 for it and I flew it out of the Oberlin, OH airport. It had a 75 Continental which, I believe, had been converted to an 85. 8-1 glide ratio as I recall. Of course, with a 20 mph. headwind cars were passing me on the Ohio Turnpike. Loved the plane, though. reply | |
| | Ernie Morris, e-mail, 20.08.2010 00:33 My fisrt airplane ride was in a cub coupe in 1953 at the old Moorestown(NJ) airport.It was a night flight. The pilots name was Stanley Dan.I went on to a CSMEL.instrument,CFI but never had the chance to fly the J-4. reply | | Pat Thomas, e-mail, 28.02.2010 18:45 My brother and I finished a restoration of N27899 a year ago. What a sweet little airplane. We are into it about 26k, which is probably a little more than its worth. reply | | Richard Kelly, e-mail, 24.02.2010 04:21 I bought my 1939 J4A off my wife's uncle 6 years ago, he owned it 40 years before that. I call it the lazy boy. Nice and comfy, flys itself. The best kept Piper secret, mine was upgraded to a C-85-12F with electrics 30 years ago. The best pic for power & economy. Plan on leaving it to my son one day. reply | | Carl Felty, e-mail, 31.01.2010 22:25 I owned J4A N22783, in 66 /67. I soloed my first student in it. I got $12 an hour for it with or without me. It now hangs from the ceiling in the main exhibition hall at the Pima County Air Museum in Tucson. It had several owners after me until it was donated. The museum had a history for it and my name was listed as one of the owners. Great to fly. reply | | Len Eisner, e-mail, 04.12.2009 23:22 In the early summer of 41 I soloed in NC 38068 after 5hrs and 40 minutes of dual. The airfield was a small grass pasture and at the time no-one ever suggested a need for a licence. As I recall I paid about 6 dollars an hour, from my 35 cent houly wage, for the plane and instructor, an itinerant drunk named Matt Hayes. I dearly enjoyed flying the Coupe, it was easy to fly and responsive. For what it's worth, I stopped flying in 06 after heart surgery-that really does in your medical. reply | | Ardy, e-mail, 04.07.2009 05:00 Just rebuilding a 1939 J4. Can't wait till it is finished. reply |
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Have you still got J4 service manuals?
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