The story
The J-2 began in 1935 as a rounder, friendlier take on C.G. Taylor's angular Taylor Cub, with an enclosed cabin and fat Goodyear airwheel tires. Employee Walter Jamouneau reworked it while Taylor was on sick leave, and Taylor fired him for it. William Piper hired Jamouneau back and bought out Taylor's share of the company. A 1937 fire destroyed the Bradford, Pennsylvania factory, production restarted at Lock Haven, and the firm became Piper Aircraft that November. The last of 1,207 J-2s was finished in 1938 as the J-3 took over.
Some believed the J stood for Jamouneau. Historian Peter Bowers concluded it simply followed the E, F, G and H Cubs, with I skipped because it looked like the numeral 1.
Quick answers
How do you identify a J-2 Cub?
Looks like a J-3 Cub at first glance: high wing, two seats in tandem, small four-cylinder engine with its cylinder heads out in the breeze. The J-2's fin and rudder are framed and covered separately from the fuselage, where the J-3's fin is built into it. The rearmost side window lacks the J-3's smooth half-oval outline. Look for fat, low-pressure balloon tires on the main gear.
What does a J-2 Cub sound like?
A soft putt-putt from a little Continental flat-four of under 40 hp.
How fast is the J-2 Cub?
Top speed is 76 kts (87 mph).
How many passengers does the J-2 Cub carry?
Up to 1. A typical layout is Two seats in tandem.
How far can the J-2 Cub fly?
Range is about 182 nmi.
How big is the J-2 Cub?
It is 22 ft 5 in long and 35 ft 2.5 in across the wings.
When did the J-2 Cub first fly?
Its first flight was in 1935.
How many J-2 Cubs have been built?
1,207 built.
How rare is a J-2 Cub in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first J-2 Cub catch is worth 25 points.
