Photograph:
Nostalgair N-3 Pup 10-4338 (c/n N3-063) at Temora, NSW in April 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single seat light sporting monoplane
Power Plant:
One 28 kw (37 hp) Hummel Volkswagen conversion [1037 cc] two-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.29 m (30 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.02 m (16 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.52 m (5 ft)
- Wing area: 11.33 m² (122 sq ft)
- Max speed: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
- Stalling speed at gross weight with full flap: 43 km/h (27 mph)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 183 m/min (600 ft/min)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.16 Imp gals)
- Take-off run: 32 m (150 ft)
- Landing run: 32 m (150 ft)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (250 lb)
- Useful load: 129 kg (285 lb)
- Loaded weight: 243 kg (535 lb)
History:
The N-3 Pup was designed by Robert Counts in 1990 as a single-seat 75% scale replica of the Piper J-3 Cub series. Marketed and sold in kit form by Nostalgair, it could be built in a number of models with a variety of engines, the lightest being the N-3 Pup which is usually fitted with a conversion of the four-cylinder Volkswagen engine by Hummel, this being cut in half to form a two-cylinder configuration.
More than 550 examples of the series have been built. Other variants produced in kit form by the company include the Super Pup with a 37 kw (50 hp) four-cylinder Volkswagen engine conversion by Mosler; and the Ultra Pup which seats two and is fitted with engines in the 45 kw to 60 kw (60 to 80 hp) range.
In recent years the series has been marketed by Preceptor Aircraft of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. One of the first completed in this region was ZK-FSK (c/n Streetair NZ001) registered to its owner at Rangiora. Construction is of welded steel tube with fabric covering. It has been described as simple, uncomplicated and recommended for new pilots with a need for simple fun flying. Examples have been completed in Australia and registered with Recreation Aviation Australia.