Modifications to a SuperCub not requiring large amounts of cover work?

[slowjunk]

I am looking at buying my first Supercub PA-18-150. The plane was restored recently and is at a very good price. Unfortunately it is very stock and some of the basic modifications aren't done like the cabin roof X-brace although it does have large bushwheels. I am interested in being able to fly with floats and using the plane to take me backwoods for camping and that leads me to thinking I should have the Wipaire 2000 gross weight STC done and the float fittings. The Wipaire STC seems like it can be done with relatively minimal work to the covering; it looks like a H cut to the cover on the wing. I would also like to add the cabin X-brace to the frame so it is a little safer. Considering that I got it at a good price, what other mods could be done without significant recovering? The things I would really like are X-brace, 2000lb gross weight STC, float fittings, provisions to mount a bellypod, 180lb baggage/third person STC, extended baggage, removable rear seat crossbar, and a control lock. I am afraid the bellypod provisions, 180lb/third person STC, and float fittings may take a lot more cover work. What are the best and earliest things I should do to maximize ease of use, handling, and safety in the backcountry? Are there other mods I should do that really are great from a regular use and utility perspective? I plan on keeping the plane for a long time and I don't want to have the plane to look like Frankenstein with all the scars and stitching all over the place too early in its life. I copied and made some edits to a list of potential mods from another thread.

Reverse Dog Leg
Extended Baggage
Metal Belly
Removable Rear Seat Cross Bar
Cargo Tie-downs
Float Fittings
Float lift Rings
Dual Tail lift handles
Firewall X Brace
Cabin Roof X Brace
Seat Belt floor Attachment
X-Brace at Turtle Deck above Lifting Handles
Flap Handle Mods - notches
Extended Front Seat Attach Tabs
Tail X-Brace
3rd Seat Reinforcement/STC
Extended Stick
Folding Front Seat
Control Lock
Parking Brake
Extended Baggage Door
Upper Cargo Bay
Metal Headliner
VG's
24 gallon wing tanks
Defroster
Rear Seat Heat
Left Window Slider, Fixed, Folding
Borer Prop
Battery Location (Underseat)
Lightweight Starter and Alternator
2000lb Gross Weight Mod
Rear underseat Storage Box
LED Strobe Lights
Upgraded Gascolator
Brake Boosters/Upgraded Brake Master Cylinders

 

[OLDCROWE]

If you want a "full dressed" Super Cub better to buy one already done that way.

 

[68Papa]

Slowjunk,

This is easy to answer. DO NOT BUY the airplane you are looking at - at any price!! If you are going to use the airplane as you state and the Cub has none of the Mods you list - find another airplane that does!! Why you ask? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$! Unless you are an A&P and Atlee, Cub Crafters, Whip, Airframes, Univair, etc are going to give you these parts and the STC's, you can buy a good Cub with most, if not all of this stuff for far less money. Lot's of good planes out there. Be patient and spend the money once!

Ask me how I know this..............

Good luck!

 

[skywagon8a]

Forget the floats fittings. Each make of floats comes with all of the fittings as part of the installation package. Some folks do weld on the rear float fittings but the bolt ons which come with the floats work just fine.

 

[cubdriver2]

Plus a stock cub with the right prop and you learning how to fly it to it's potential after some seat time will most likely do 99% of what you want to do just the way it is. Without all the money and extra weight. Add the pod and float fittings.

Glenn

 

[behindpropellers]

Mine was stock when I bought it.

I added a belly pod, bushwheels, borer prop, underseat storage, and safety cables.

Oh....shoulder harnesses that are attached at the top.

I don't even think safety cables make sense with bushwheels if you properly inspect your gear.

My wife and I have taken it from Ohio to Idaho twice and Ohio to the Bahamas I think its been in 25 of the 50 states.

My conclusion is that I would rather have money for fuel than extra stuff on the plane after having it for 5+ years.

Tim

 

[slowjunk]

Mine was stock when I bought it.

I added a belly pod, bushwheels, borer prop, underseat storage, and safety cables.

Oh....shoulder harnesses that are attached at the top.

I don't even think safety cables make sense with bushwheels if you properly inspect your gear.

My wife and I have taken it from Ohio to Idaho twice and Ohio to the Bahamas I think its been in 25 of the 50 states.

My conclusion is that I would rather have money for fuel than extra stuff on the plane after having it for 5+ years.

Tim

Your input is close to what I was guessing would be what I should do. I think the bellypod is a great add-on for the volume of stuff I need. I am completely amazed that someone would fly a SuperCub from Ohio to the Bahamas or to Idaho, that must have taken awhile.

 

[slowjunk]

Forget the floats fittings. Each make of floats comes with all of the fittings as part of the installation package. Some folks do weld on the rear float fittings but the bolt ons which come with the floats work just fine.

Thanks.

 

[behindpropellers]

Your input is close to what I was guessing would be what I should do. I think the bellypod is a great add-on for the volume of stuff I need. I am completely amazed that someone would fly a SuperCub from Ohio to the Bahamas or to Idaho, that must have taken awhile.

My Cohort, John Meade and I flew from Ohio to Missouri breaks in one day.

Should have added a relief tube

Nothing better than flying across the country 500' off of the ground.

Tim

 

[slowjunk]

My Cohort, John Meade and I flew from Ohio to Missouri breaks in one day.

Should have added a relief tube

Nothing better than flying across the country 500' off of the ground.

Tim

Perhaps you should next attempt replicating the "Spirit of Kay" with a SuperCub... I wonder if that would even be possible today?

 

[mike mcs repair]

belly pod is easy on covered plane, make small slit on side and bigger slit underneath, just 2 clamps....

X brace is doable, but allot of work on a assembled plane, might be quickest & easiest to drop wings off to do it.. would halve to be a contortionist to do the welding otherwise.... I've done it before, but remember it was NOT fun.... might consider making a clamp in version... (why doesn't someone make/sell that??!)

Atlee sells a clamp in brace for the tail.... use that

as said above, just use bolt on float fitting since you are covered..

yes to the H cut to do the GW kit done many

Atlee sells a small rear baggage that slides in http://www.fadodge.com

 

[WhiskeyMike]

Y I am completely amazed that someone would fly a SuperCub from Ohio to the Bahamas or to Idaho, that must have taken awhile.

How about Dublin, Ireland to Tirane, Albania- and back, or Cambridge, England to Reggio Calabria, Italy, and back. The I sold the plane back in the states to Doug Keller, and now two French guys flew it across the Atlantic and down through Africa. You need two plastic bottles, one full of fresh water, and one empty. Don't get them confused.

 

[DaveG]

How about Dublin, Ireland to Tirane, Albania- and back, or Cambridge, England to Reggio Calabria, Italy, and back. The I sold the plane back in the states to Doug Keller, and now two French guys flew it across the Atlantic and down through Africa. You need two plastic bottles, one full of fresh water, and one empty. Don't get them confused.

How about Santa Paula CA to Rockland ME? About as far as we (Wife and I) could go in the continental US....
DaveG

 

[WindOnHisNose]

belly pod is easy on covered plane, make small slit on side and bigger slit underneath, just 2 clamps....

X brace is doable, but allot of work on a assembled plane, might be quickest & easiest to drop wings off to do it.. would halve to be a contortionist to do the welding otherwise.... I've done it before, but remember it was NOT fun.... might consider making a clamp in version... (why doesn't someone make/sell that??!)

Atlee sells a clamp in brace for the tail.... use that

as said above, just use bolt on float fitting since you are covered..

yes to the H cut to do the GW kit done many

Atlee sells a small rear baggage that slides in http://www.fadodge.com

Mike, I agree with your comment regarding the need for someone to come up with a clamp on X brace. I am years out from the need to recover and would do a clamp in solution right now!

randy

 

[mike mcs repair]

Mike, I agree with your comment regarding the need for someone to come up with a clamp on X brace. I am years out from the need to recover and would do a clamp in solution right now!

randy

just thinking out loud....
diagonal, and clamps to front and rear carry though next to cluster, would add quite a bit of strength to the existing diagonal and keep it from coming DOWN into your head.......

thoughts??
might need a new thread for this?

 

[skywagon8a]

just thinking out loud....
diagonal, and clamps to front and rear carry though next to cluster, would add quite a bit of strength to the existing diagonal and keep it from coming DOWN into your head.......

thoughts??
might need a new thread for this?

Off the top of my head, What does that "new" cross tube accomplish and how? Isn't it's purpose to hold the overhead square section from distortion in certain racking loads? The existing tube works well in one direction when loaded in tension. How about a 3/16" cable wrapped around the clusters (where the added weld in X brace tube goes) with anti-chafe protection joined in the center with a turnbuckle for setting tension? This would provide the same protection as the added weld in tube. A fitting could be devised which would protect the original tube from new added side loading. The "X" brace tubes work in tension so why not a strong cable for the "X"?

 

[mike mcs repair]

new thread for clamp in X brace
http://www.supercub.org/forum/showt...Bolt-on-Clamp-on-Solution&p=622442#post622442

 

[mike mcs repair]

Off the top of my head, What does that "new" cross tube accomplish and how? Isn't it's purpose to hold the overhead square section from distortion in certain racking loads? The existing tube works well in one direction when loaded in tension. How about a 3/16" cable wrapped around the clusters (where the added weld in X brace tube goes) with anti-chafe protection joined in the center with a turnbuckle for setting tension? This would provide the same protection as the added weld in tube. A fitting could be devised which would protect the original tube from new added side loading. The "X" brace tubes work in tension so why not a strong cable for the "X"?

gonna move this to other thread...

 

[Jasperfield]

If I had the chance to buy a good "stock" airplane at a good price I'd buy it. I'd fly it and learn it. That's what I would surely do. There's a BIG difference between what you'd think while flying a nice, solid, simple airplane and how your "mind's eye" will tempt you while reading about others' airplanes.

Personally, I would neither buy nor modify an airplane to take me camping. I'd rather use my truck, but that's my opinion.

 

[DENNY]

The fact that the plane you are looking at needs a lot done to make it what you want I would also recommend you walk away and find the cub you want to start with. You are looking at 50 grand to get that work done. Why tear up a new recover job. Just find the cub you want to start with.
DENNY

 

[slowjunk]

I hope the other thread that got started about a bolt in X-brace goes somewhere. It would be a neat addition.

 

[Clifford]

Cubdriver2 I had conversation with Renee Robilard came into Parlin Arpt Newport NH today other his PA12, was talking to him about mods and mentioned to him about a mod on trailing edge of the flaps name was willi- that decreased the stall and was a trailing edge piece of 90deg angle attached the trailing edge can't remember what I'd is called. can you help me out?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Cubdriver2 I had conversation with Renee Robilard came into Parlin Arpt Newport NH today other his PA12, was talking to him about mods and mentioned to him about a mod on trailing edge of the flaps name was willi- that decreased the stall and was a trailing edge piece of 90deg angle attached the trailing edge can't remember what I'd is called. can you help me out?

Wickerbills

 

[skywagon8a]

Cubdriver2 I had conversation with Renee Robilard came into Parlin Arpt Newport NH today other his PA12, was talking to him about mods and mentioned to him about a mod on trailing edge of the flaps name was willi- that decreased the stall and was a trailing edge piece of 90deg angle attached the trailing edge can't remember what I'd is called. can you help me out?

Gurney flap.... http://www.dept.aoe.vt.edu/~mason/Mason_f/AIAA2007-4175.pdf

 

[Tim]

Cliff, check this thread. I have them on my 2+2, they do a little bit for stall
.
http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthread.php?28954-gurney-flaps&highlight=Wickerbill