Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser explained

The Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser is an American three-seat, high wing, single-engine conventional landing gear-equipped light aircraft that was produced by Piper Aircraft between 1946-48. The PA-12 was an upgraded and redesignated Piper J-5.[1]

Development

When Piper dropped the J- designation system in exchange for the PA- system, the J-5C became the PA-12 "Super Cruiser". The earlier J-5s had been powered by either a 1000NaN0 Lycoming O-235 or a 750NaN0 Lycoming O-145. The newer PA-12 model was initially powered by a 1080NaN0 Lycoming O-235-C engine, was fully cowled, and had a metal spar wing with two 19 gallon fuel tanks. A Lycoming O-235-C1 engine rated at 1150NaN0 for takeoff was optional.[2]

The prototype NX41561 was converted from a J-5C and first flew from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on 29 October 1945. The first production model followed on 22 February 1946 and quantity production continued until the last example of 3760 built was completed on 18 March 1948.[3]

The PA-12 is approved for wheels, skis, floats and also for crop spraying.

Cockpit accommodation is provided for the pilot in the front seat and two passengers in the rear seat, side-by-side. Unlike the J-3 Cub the PA-12 is flown solo from the front seat.

Operational use

Many PA-12s have been modified with larger engines. Wing flaps and a metal-skin fuselage can be added as modifications.

In 1947, two PA-12s, named City of Washington and City of the Angels, flew around the world. The worst mechanical failure they suffered was a cracked tailwheel. The City of Washington currently resides at the Boeing Aviation Hangar, part of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The City of the Angels is on display at the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.[4]

PA-12s have been exported to a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Many PA-12s are still flown by private pilot owners and the type is commonly seen in North America. In November 2009 there were still 1688 registered in the US and 229 in Canada.[5] [6]

Variants

PA-12
  • Original model type certified 24 March 1947, with a gross weight of 17500NaN0 in the Normal Category and 15000NaN0 in the Utility Category
    PA-12S
  • Second model type certified 11 August 1948, with 18380NaN0 gross weight, Normal Category only The PA-12S Seaplane variant was fitted with the 1350NaN0 Lycoming O-290-D2 engine to improve take-off performance.[7]

    Notable accidents

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 59. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977.
    2. Web site: AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO. A-780 Revision 13. 2011-02-22. Federal Aviation Administration. March 2001.
    3. Peperell, 1987, pp 58-59
    4. Web site: Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Collections. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. 9 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150624015050/http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19500101000. 24 June 2015.
    5. Web site: FAA REGISTRY Make / Model Inquiry Results. 2009-11-03. Federal Aviation Administration. November 2009.
    6. Web site: Civil Aircraft Register. 2009-11-03. Transport Canada. November 2009.
    7. Peperell, 1987, p. 58
    8. News: Hollander . Zaz . Brooks . James . State lawmaker and local pilot among 7 killed in midair collision over Alaska's Kenai Peninsula . . 1 August 2020 . 19 August 2020 .

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