Legend Aircraft Legend Cub

Single Piston

The Legend Cub represents a modern reimagining of aviation's most iconic trainer, blending the classic Piper J-3 Cub's beloved handling characteristics with 21st-century materials and manufacturing. Built by Legend Aircraft in Sulphur Springs, Texas, this light-sport aircraft replaces the original's fabric-covered steel tube fuselage with an all-aluminum airframe while preserving the tandem seating, high-wing configuration, and docile flight manners that made the Cub a legend. First introduced in the late 1990s as the American Legend Cub, the design has evolved through several iterations, offering pilots a choice of engines from 100 to 180 horsepower and the option of tailwheel or tricycle landing gear. What sets the Legend Cub apart from other Cub replicas is its Part 23 certification and later LSA variants, making it accessible to sport pilots while offering the durability and lower maintenance of metal construction compared to fabric-covered designs. The aircraft excels in the same roles that made the original famous: flight training, backcountry flying, and low-and-slow recreational aviation. With a stall speed around 38 knots and a never-exceed speed of 140 knots, it operates in the same gentle envelope as its 1930s ancestor, yet benefits from modern avionics, improved visibility, and sturdier construction. The type has found favor with flight schools seeking a nostalgic training experience and private owners who want Cub aesthetics without the fabric maintenance. SkyMeter has tracked 97 flights across 42 airframes and 40 operators, with SMAC AVIATION LLC the largest observed operator.