Somewhere along the line a collection of folks with far too much free time on their hands came up with the bright idea of naming groups of individuals based on the timeframe in which they were born. Apparently, society was short on categories for John, Jane, Susan, and Bill and so this association of intellectual giants felt the need to invent new boxes to put them all in.
Their work looks like this, more or less.
My grandparents were born in the closing years of the 19th century. This earned them membership in The Lost Generation. They didn’t think they were lost, but someone did. And that someone had access to a printing press. Presto. They were Lost.
Next came the Greatest Generation. So called because Tom Brokaw needed a pithy title for a book. These folks went through some real hardship. The Great Depression and World War II and the birth of television, to name just a few of the tragedies that befell them.
The Silent Generation took up residence somewhere in the mid 1920s. Nobody knows for sure when they came into being. Specifics aren’t always necessary when you’re inventing categories to store things in. Just throw a dart at a calendar and pronounce that date as the start of something new. That’s pretty much the standard method when you’re making stuff up for no good reason.
I’m a Baby Boomer. Mine is a quirky generation in that few of us have ever actually blown anything up. Nothing sizeable anyway. Nothing you’d particularly want to keep for posterity.
Then came Generation X, the Millennials, Generation Z, and now Generation Alpha. The fact that Generation Alpha comes after Generation Z in the birth order makes me think the team making up this ranking system isn’t too bright.
Usually, it takes a government department and billions of dollars to come up with a system this stupid. The fact that some shadowy group did this all on their own without inciting a major incident is a testament to their shady and secretive nature.
Bear with me for a moment. This is going somewhere. I promise.
What we’ve examined here in the most superficial detail is the entire American population broken down into eight groups that have no commonality of experience other than being raised in the same country and being born between this non-specific date and that one.
Other than that, there is no link between these folks. Or so it may seem.
As a means of connecting the dots and the people of this nation over the course of more than a century of its history, I give you the diminutive, but iconic, Piper J-3 Cub.
The Cub owes its existence to thousands of men and women who are long gone. But the driving force behind the design came in the form of two specific men: Clarence Gilbert Taylor and William Thomas Piper.
Taylor was of the Lost Generation, being born in the same year as my dear old granddad. Mr. Piper was born in 1881, so he does not belong to an officially sanctioned generational group. He was just a person.
Prior to 1883 all people were just people no matter when or where they were born. It didn’t even matter if they went to public school, or private school, or any school. Somehow, they existed without official categorization as a group. Somehow, humanity survived this dearth of human categorization.
Taylor and Piper worked side by side to create what very well may be the most important manmade object of all time. A machine that spans the ages linking the era of no generational identification classifications to the youngest human beings on the planet. Even if a little tyke was born today, or tomorrow, or in the 2040s, they would have every reason to become as familiar with and enthralled by the Piper Cub as Taylor and Piper were.
I know this is true because large numbers of people from every generation that has come along has been exposed to and become enamored of the Cub. Even those from the era of Taylor and Piper saw the machine as a peek into the future. To a time when anything was possible.
Have you ever met a pilot who didn’t either have — or want — Cub time? No. I don’t think so.
Consider for a moment that these two men and a good percentage of the crews that built the Cub came into a world powered by steam engines. Transportation relied upon the horse, the wagon wheel, and the ability of a boat to displace enough water to float on its surface, often powered by sail. They were introduced to electricity as young adults. From their perspective radio was a brand new invention.
The Cub represents the essence of flight and nothing more. A cluster of welded steel tubes wrapped in a blanket of Grade A cotton, powered by Continental, Lycoming, or Franklin engines producing as many as 65 hp. The Cub sprung from the imaginations and sweat of men and women who did something amazing. They invented, then perfected, a flying machine that has never been equaled.
It’s small, light, and includes only the bare necessities of a flying machine. There is no fluff. It offers us nothing but the chance to experience flight in a pure form while honing basic flying skills to a razor sharp edge.
The Cub is easy to fly. It’s a challenge to fly well. And therein lies the magic.
It’s so simple it should be a bargain basement buy. But our love for the design has elevated its purchase price to reflect our devotion to this near-perfect flying machine. Designed and built by people born into a world of candles and kerosene lamps, it will still be flown a century from now by techno-geeks who have never known a time without comfort and plenty.
The J-3 Cub truly spans the ages. It may be the only man-made object that truly does. Thankfully, it is ours to enjoy while we’re here. As it will be for many, many decades into the future.
1,200 hours in an Aeronca Champ (four, actually). Sixty-five years of flying. So far, so good. If you can’t fly a taildragger you’re still a student pilot.
The young folks drive airplanes instead of flying them.
Fly a tail dragger and learn the true meaning of stick and rudder skills.
Rudder, rudder, rudder. Read Langewisches book, “Stick and Rudder”.
When I started (1970 & 19 years old), my school, Amityville Flying Service at Zahn’s Airport Long Island NY, there was a fleet 0f 6 J-3 Cubs and 15 Cherokee 140s. I told the chief pilot that I wanted to learn in those cool looking Cherokees. He said, “No, you will start in the Cubs until solo and then transition to Cherokees for cross country work. Trust me. You’ll thank me later.”
He was so right!
Yep a J-3 is just about flying, not fast, not high, not far, just flying – where you learn slips are better than flaps – but I prefer champs also (solo from the front seat.)
So I get a call years ago (1988 maybe) from some guy who was flying ultralights. He asks if I would instruct him and his two partners as they had just purchased a Cub. I couldn’t believe it! Instantly I had 3 students to instruct in a Cub. They all passed their checkrides and then moved up to a Cessna 170. Holy cow! Instructed them in the 170. Then a former student bought a Stearman and wisely received instruction from an experienced CFI, not me. I did get to fly the Stearman later and it’s a blast.
These CFIs focusing on the airlines don’t know what they’re missing.
I checked out in a Cub at Kobelts Airport in New York State in the summer of 1964 so that I could rent and fly the Cub that was owned by Harvey Thompson at Twin Lakes airport in Kingston NY for $8.00/ hour. I later instructed in the Cub that was owned by Shore Air Service where I worked as a flight instructor in Colts Neck NJ before being hired by TWA as a pilot in 1965. I bought a beautiful 1942 Cub in Florida and taught my son to fly it ! He later flew F/A 18 Hornets in the Navy for 25 years!
Way to get us to think, Jamie. I’m a proud Baby-Boomer with a fantastic Taylorcraft. Many have commented about my Cub, and I have to sadly tell them that it’s like a Cub, but with side by side seating, and yokes instead of sticks. No one has asked for a ride, but I wonder if they know what they are missing.
Anyway, these old airplanes are still amazing their pilots with flying experiences.
All 3 of my Cubs were keepers — wish I had and am now looking for another
Cubs are Great! Put them on floats and expand the experience that Cubs can provide. Find a place that allow one to do this, you won’t be sorry.
Extremely well written and accurate. VERY well done! With one exception: the line “Have you ever met a pilot who didn’t either have — or want — Cub time? No.” Yes, I have. Far too often.
I’m a long time tailwheel instructor (and just barely-pre baby boomer) on what is repeatedly pointed out as “The nation’s busiest single-runway airport”. KSDL, Scottsdale, AZ. I’m constantly in the run-up area with 172s (dozens of them), Gulfstreams, F-18s and the occasional Cub. Almost anything that flies is there.
There are five extraordinarily busy flight schools on the field and I’ve had occasion to talk with lots of their CFIs and students and I’ll bet my grand kids that almost none of the CFIs or students can pick a Cub out of the herd. I’ve offered free rides to a number of their CFIs and students and they have zero interest. None! Okay, so I’m instructing in a Pitts, not a Cub, but you’d think there’d be at least a little interest. There’s none and I’ve met many of them who have never heard of Oshkosh. They’re all aiming at the airlines.
Maybe later in their flying life they’ll look around and discover the Cub-roots so many of us have (although I did actually take my CFI and Commercial check rides in well-equipped Champs). Maybe there’s some hope for them.
Sorry to ramble.
As I get out to Scottsdale once or twice a year for work, I should look you up. I’m a Boomer who’s never been in a Cub and would take as many rides as you’d offer!
Good take, Jamie. Well done.
If I ever figure out who “They” are…
“They” get around a lot, and seem to be involved in every thing!
I prefer a Champ….😉
Thank you, Jamie, for all of the wonderful articles. From a flying almost octogenarian.
Does that mean that I am an almost Baby Boomer??
The very first aircraft I ever flew in was a 1946 J-3 Cub. I was 12 years old. My dad knew an old man who had one and he asked the man to take me up for my very first flight. The flight was from a cow pasture airfield, and lasted only about 20 minutes or so. I immediately knew that I would own one someday. I am now 72, and I own and fly a 1946 J-3 Cub. I have had it for decades, and will have it til the day I die. I have flown numerous other aircraft over the years, but nothing beats my Cub. It is the essence of what flying is all about. I would rather fly my Cub than anything else.
Having flown most G/A aircraft including small jets, I fondly remember soloing a Cub back in 1969….One never forgets the first time you solo. I still remember the day well……My instructor congratulating me, the school owners smiling and shaking my hand and my fellow students pathing me on the back ……All that many years ago! A memory never to forget…!
The J-3 Cub is like the Ford Model T for the new civilian aviation industry, which paved the way for Cessna , Stearman, Beech, Mooney, and others that has yielded the aircraft that we have today.! Those aircraft developed in the 40’s to the 60’s are still flying today.
Now we have the Technically advanced aircraft like the Cirrus SR series, and Pipistrel, not to leave out all the experimental aircraft designs available today.!
Jim. I think you will find that Mr Cessna, Stearman and Mr & Mrs Beech came along about 20 years before Masters Piper and Taylor…
That said I have to agree with Budd that there are a few insensitive pilots/airplane drivers… (vs Aviators..) that haven’t the sight to appreciate the Cub. Then these folk also consider a slip an emergency maneuver not worth teaching…🤓. I guess it’s that gen “thing”.
Nicely written… I sense you reaching for that Bax.. seat. Keep it up. LOL