| J-4 Cub Coupe | |
|---|---|
 Piper J-4A Cub Coupe displayed at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona in 2005 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Trainer and private owner aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Piper |
| Status | Many still flying as of 2026 |
| Number built | 1,251 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1938-1942 |
Introduction date | 1938 |
| First flight | May 1938 |
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two place side-by-side version of the Piper J-3 that was built between 1938 and 1942 by Piper Aircraft. It was Piper's first model with side-by-side seating.
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The fuselage of the J-4 was wider than the J-3 and the aircraft had a fully enclosed rear decking to the fuselage top. The first J-4s had a Continental 50 hp A50 engine with upward-facing exhaust ports, an open cowl, oil and spring landing gear, a modified tail wheel system and many other changes. The early J-4 had a comfortable cockpit but was slower than most side by side aircraft of the day.
The 1940 J-4A gained a fully enclosed cowling, a Continental 65 hp A65 engine, and aft auxiliary fuel. The J-4B was fitted with a 60 hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine. The final version was the 1941 J-4E which sported a 75 hp Continental engine and redesigned interior. The main fuel tank was moved to the wing along with a header tank. Performance was now on par with similar contemporary types, but the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed its fate as all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.
Some J-4s had another unique feature in the tail construction: the stabilizer was made of stainless steel tubing, riveted together with gussets.
General characteristics Performance
Data from Simpson, 2001, p. 430.
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
The J-4 remained an excellent selling product for Piper until December 1941 when all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.[dead link]
Media related to Piper J-4 at Wikimedia Commons