Definition
A single-engine, two-seat, high-wing light airplane manufactured by Piper Aircraft, configured with conventional (tailwheel) landing gear. Officially designated the PA-18, it was produced from 1949 into the 1990s and is widely used for training, backcountry flying, banner towing, glider towing, and bush operations because of its short takeoff and landing performance and rugged construction.
Plain English
A small, simple, two-seat airplane with a tailwheel instead of a nose wheel. It's well known for being able to take off and land in very short distances and on rough ground, which is why it's popular for training and for flying into remote areas.
Context Anchor
Seen in Chapter 14 of the Airplane Flying Handbook when comparing a tailwheel airplane with a nose-wheel airplane.
Derivation
Named after William T. Piper, founder of Piper Aircraft. 'Super Cub' marks it as the upgraded version of the earlier Piper J-3 Cub, with a more powerful engine and improved performance. 'Cub' was simply the original model's nickname, evoking a small, friendly aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Its tailwheel configuration requires specific ground-handling skills that differ from nosewheel airplanes, making it a common trainer for conventional-gear operations and backcountry flying.
Intuition Check
Do not read Piper Super Cub as a general name for any small tailwheel airplane. It is a specific Piper airplane model that is often used as an example of a tailwheel airplane.
Example Sentence 1
The student logged her first tailwheel hours in a Piper Super Cub before moving on to more advanced backcountry training.
Example Sentence 2
Many pilots choose the Piper Super Cub for its ability to operate from short, unimproved runways in remote areas.