J3 Cub radio/intercom questions

[WrenchingPilot]

Hi all, I'm new to this board, and new to flying Cub's. I couldn't find an active J3 cub board, and you all seemed pretty knowlegeable, so I figured I'd post here and try to learn. I've done some searching and reading of old posts, which has answered many of my questions.

Basically, I'm maintaining a J3 cub, no electrical system, and the owner wishes to install an intercom and radio. The radio can be handheld. The idea of using gel cell batteries & panel mounted radio/intercom has been floated, but I'm not sure where the best place is to mount them. He would also like to mount a Garmin 295 GPS somewhere inside as well. I've seen posts with the GPS's clipped to the forward seatback with a clamp, but I was wondering if anyone had any more permanent ideas?

I've read the discussion on favorite radio makes/models, and i was wondering if anyone had any pictures of how they have their Cub or Supercub outfitted with radios.

Thanks

Isaac

[mvivion]

Isaac,

Before the advent of practical hand held aviation radios, I installed a King KY 96 comm radio in the skylight of my J-3, using Adel clamps on the crosstubes. I also "temporarily" mounted a small motorcycle battery behind the rear seat, and a small solar panel in the skylight above the radio.

Nowadays, there are lots of really nice small handheld radios. The overhead crossbraces would work well, they're in view of hte pilot, and are out of the way. Structurally, they are a good place to mount something. Just do it as a "temporary" installation, so no field approval required.

MTV

[bob turner]

I'm with you - I only wish the J-3 had an active site. No, actually they are very similar to Super Cubs, and many maintenance issues are the same. The real difference is that the J-3 can be soloed from either seat; the Super Cub is only soloed from the front.

I installed a radio in the left wing root, along with all phone jacks and some toggle switches, in 1974. I can reach everything from both seats. I recently replaced the old radio with an SL-40 and a PS-501 intercom. It is powered with anything I want, from about 9v. to 35v. I make the battery removable, like MV says, and I give it a precautionary jolt about once a month. The SL-40 has only two faults - it is a bit hard to read from the back seat, and its memory arrangements suck, but otherwise, the setup is as good as any radio/intercom I have yet used! No ATC facility has ever complained!

If I had unlimited $, I would do it the same way - except I would use the King KY-196A or 197A, just because the frequencies are easier to read and the memory can be programmed any way you want. Cost is roughly the same. Performance is probably very close.

As for the GPS, I think I would hang it on the vertical window post closest to the seat you like the best, and power it off a separate gell cell. I mounted an ICOM on the rear post, and found it to be an optimum place for data entry and reading the LCDs.

If I were going to add a Super Cub, I would equip it exactly like Gary Drean's new airplane, except that all round dials would be on the rectangular panel. I'll see if I can post a photo.

[Icecub]

A few ideas regarding a J-3 Radio/electrical installation. See bottom of album page.

http://supercub.org/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album123

[S2D]

I'm with you - I only wish the J-3 had an active site. No, actually they are very similar to Super Cubs, and many maintenance issues are the same. The real difference is that the J-3 can be soloed from either seat; the Super Cub is only soloed from the front.


Try j3-cub.com
Its up to you to make it active.

[mvivion]

And, its worthy of note that a stock J-3 can NOT be legally soloed from either seat. It can be flown from the front seat if there's a passenger in the back seat. I suppose you could put 150 pounds of ballast back there and fly from the front.

If you have a wing tank, this may change the equation.

MTV

[Longwinglover]

Steve was right, it's not often that one catches Mike Vivion!

From the TCDS:

Empty Weight C. G. Range If placard "Solo flying in rear seat only" is installed (See NOTE 2): (+8.5) to (+20.3)
When empty weight C. G. falls within range given, computation of critical fore and aft C. G. positions is unnecessary. Range is not valid for non-standard arrangements.

NOTE 2 Placard front cockpits of Models J3C-50, J3C-65, J3C-50S with McKinley floats and J3C-65S with McKinley floats: "Solo flying from rear seat only." Placard may be removed if individual aircraft actual weight and balance shows that the approved C. G. limits will not be exceeded under any loading condition.
Manufacturer recommends that all J-3 airplanes be flown solo from the rear seat.

I read this to mean that in the (unlikely) situation that your J3 has an empty weight CG that allows it, you can solo from the front seat. :D

John Scott

[Steve Pierce]

That is probably the one that the tail was repaired in the bush with galvanized pipe.

[T.J.]

delete

[Steve Pierce]

Adapt and overcome. Use what you got. :lol:

[mvivion]

Well, my old J-3 had a placard which clearly stated "Solo rear seat only". Never read the TC for it, though.

I did point out, though, that it is a CG issue, and with weight in the back, you can legally fly the plane from the front.

MTV

[bob turner]

Rear seat is much more comfortable - that's why the duster pilots in Alabama taught me to fly from the front - they wanted the back.

Most J-3s can be flown from the front, solo - until you put a metal prop on them.

As to the other sites - the J-3 by Will, the Bellanca-Decathlon, etc. - I tried. It is really no fun talking to yourself. This is fun, and educational. I never log on and find nothing changed.

[PA-10]

I have bookmarks for www.j3-cub.com and www.cub-club.com but neither are very active. I also used to check out the site for the US Aerobatic Foundation, who were raffling off a J-3 but seem to have taken my money and vanished.

[Longwinglover]

There's also the site on yahoo!:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/piper-cub-builders/

John Scott

[jbmizou]

And, its worthy of note that a stock J-3 can NOT be legally soloed from either seat. It can be flown from the front seat if there's a passenger in the back seat. I suppose you could put 150 pounds of ballast back there and fly from the front.

If you have a wing tank, this may change the equation.

MTV

Actually, my J-3, s/n 23168, can be soloed from either seat according to original factory weight and balance data, and current data from actual weighing. At a pilot weight of 220 lbs., the max fuel can only be 8 gals. on this particular bird. 3 point landings are a challenge, however.

[bob turner]

That brings up another subject, of course. I have never flown a Cub or Decathlon that had any trouble at all climbing at any weight - except maybe at a 7000 ft airport on a 100 degree day. No matter what I put on board. However, the average C-150 or 152 with a couple of adults and full fuel is downright scary! Not to mention overloaded, which is the way they always operate. My Cub, with me at 195 and full fuel, did very nice full stall landings back in 1962, with me in front on my first solo.