Photograph:
First American Legend Classic Cub imported into Australia 24-8801 (c/n AL1187) at the Ausfly event at Narromine, NSW in 2015 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200-D four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.82 m (35 ft 6 in)
- Length: 6.85 m (22 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.04 m (6 ft 7 in)
- Max speed: 174 km/h (108 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 156 km/h (97 mph)
- Cruising speed at 65% power: 145 km/h (90 mph)
- Stalling speed: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Take-off run at sea level: 94 m (310 ft)
- Landing roll: 79 m (260 ft)
- Rate of climb: 229 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 76 litres (16.6 Imp gals)
- Endurance: 3.5 hours
- Range at 65% power: 507 km (315 miles)
- Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 372 kg (820 lb)
- Useful load: 227 kg (500 lb)
- Loaded weight: 599 kg (1,320 lb)
- Loaded weight on floats: 649 kg (1,430 lb)
History:
The American Legend AL-3 Classic Cub was basically a replica of the Piper Aircraft J-3 Cub produced in the United States but using modern design and construction techniques, and fitted with a modern Continental four-cylinder engine. Power was provided by the Continental O-200-D engine driving a 1.82 m (72 in) Sensenich carbon fibre ground-adjustable propeller, this engine being 8 kg (18 lb) lighter than the O-200-A which was fitted to the original J-3 Cub.
American Legend Aircraft produced a range of aircraft similar in appearance to the 1940s Piper models, including the J-3 Cub (known as the J-3 Style Open Cowl), PA-11 Cub Special (known as the PA-11 Style Closed Cowl), Super Cub (known as the PA-18 Style Super Cub), and the Combat Cub which was a Cub painted in military markings. The aircraft were built with a wider cockpit, two doors, and the ability to fly solo from either seat.
The Classic Cub aircraft combined ‘the basic design of the original Cub with present day technology resulting in an aircraft described as both modern and nostalgic.’ The aircraft was LSA certified, had a max useful load of 227 kg (500 lb) and was built at the Company’s facility in Sulphur Springs, Texas, USA. The original Cub was first built in 1937 and first flew in 1938, almost 20,000 examples being completed between 1938 and 1947. Many examples of the original aircraft survive. The modern aircraft has a Garmin 796 GPS, a SL40 Communications Radio and a GTC33-Mode S Transponder.