Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Two-seat light sport and training monoplane

Power Plant:

One 86 kw (115 hp) Lycoming O-233 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The American Legend Aircraft Company of Sulphur Springs, Texas, USA has been involved in the production of reproduction / replicas of the Piper series of aircraft, including the Super Cub. In January 2012 it flew an aircraft known as the Super Legend which was similar in appearance to the PA-18 Super Cub and was fitted with a Lycoming engine. It has been described as a re-creation of the classic PA-18 but the cockpit has been built wider and has carbon fibre components. It has an electrical system with a starter, radios and electronic flight displays. Fuel tanks have been placed in the wings and the aircraft is able to be flown solo from the front or rear seat. Certification was received in November 2013 and deliveries began later that year.

The Super Legend was an addition to the Company’s range and had a new wing with flaps, a new Lycoming O-233 multi-fuel engine and new tail. It was designed and built to meet sport LSA regulations in the United States. The flaps are one-third of the span and it has aerodynamic elevators to improve pitch feel. The Lycoming O-233 engine is a lightened variant of the O-235 unit used in the Cessna 152 and has electronic ignition, a battery, alternator and regulator.

Construction is of tubular steel with fabric covering, the steel being CNC cut and TIG welded. The wider cabin was for improved comfort. American Legend stated that with the lighter, stronger airframe and the new O-233 engine the aircraft achieved the same power-to-weight ratio as a 112 kw (150 hp) Super Cub. The kit variant is known as the Texas Sport Cub. The series can be fitted with tundra tyres, floats or skis.

The manufacturer stated “Legend has taken a well-proven design and updated it for the 21st century. With a new engine, instrumentation, modern carbon fibre materials and 21st century ergonomics, the Super Legend addresses everything which needed to be improved on the beloved Piper.” A baggage door is installed in the fuselage and in the “Alaska edition” there is an extended baggage area and baggage tubes for carrying fishing poles and other long hunting gear.

American Legend was a company commenced by Darin Hart and Timothy Elliott in 2004, who decided to build their own variant of the Piper Cub when, whilst attending the EAA AirVenture event in Wisconsin in 2004, they found they could not obtain a kit of the Piper Cub within what they considered to be a reasonable period. Subsequently they went about the business of building kits and ready-to-fly aircraft. A further variant which has been made available is the Super Legend HP fitted with a 134 kw (180 hp) Titan O-340 engine.

The Super Legend has been available as a ready-to-fly S-LSA aircraft but also may be obtained as an amateur-built kit.

First example in Australia arrived in October 2015 for the Australian distributor to be initially used as a demonstrator.