DALLAS — Her name is “Lulu Belle,” a 1942 Piper Cub J-3/L-4B that is the grand prize in the summer fundraiser for the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society.
She began life as an Army L-4B and was assigned to Camp Butner in North Carolina, helping to train artillery spotters for the European invasion. The Cub was completed just before Christmas in 1942 and sold for $2,130.
After the war the Cub was converted to a J-3.
The plane is in current annual inspection, has 325 hours SMOH on a 75-hp Continental engine, and a Garmin GTR-200 Comm/Intercom, according to officials with the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society, which is based in Hangar Three at Eagles Nest Airport (T56), about 20 miles south of downtown Dallas.
“It is ready to fly home,” they said.
“Not a pilot? No problem,” officials continued. “The Piper Cub is a great plane to learn to fly. Thousands of World War II and post-war pilots learned to fly in the Cub.”
Already have a plane? If you win the grand prize, you can choose the cash option and take home a check for $25,000.
All proceeds raised from the raffle will be used to benefit the preservation and restoration of historic aircraft, said officials with the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society, which is dedicated to preserving and restoring historic aircraft.
The society’s current project is the restoration of a rare 1931 Fleet Model 8 biplane that was once owned by famous World War II bomber pilot, Fred J. McConnell. The Air Force named its Wichita airfield McConnell Air Force Base in his honor.
Tickets for the sweepstakes are available at HistoricAir.org. You can get 10 entries for $25, 25 entries for $50, 60 entries for $100, up to 1,000 entries for $1,000.
Deadline to enter is Aug. 25, 2023, with the winner chosen Aug. 30.
Find out more here.