page_title: Piper Flitfire
section_title: Current Flitfires
hierarchical_section_title: Piper Flitfire / Current Flitfires
caption_attribution_description: English: Piper J-3 Flitfire
context_page_description: The Flitfire is a special edition of the Piper J-3 Cub that was used to raise funds to support the British war effort in World War II. The name "Flitfire" is a play on words referring to the RAF's most well-known fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire, which was and is a symbol of British resistance during the Battle of Britain.
  In April 1941, prior to the United States' entry into World War II, Piper Aircraft and its distributors donated special edition Piper J-3 Cubs as a publicity event and a fundraiser for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. These donated Cubs — painted with Royal Air Force insignia — were known as "Flitfires."
  This fund raising program consisted of 49 Flitfire aircraft, one paid for by Piper Aircraft and 48 by Piper distributors. All were built by Piper. There was a Flitfire named for each of the 48 states in the union at that time. These airplanes were colloquially known as "The Flitfire Brigade."
context_section_description: After the war, all the Flitfires vanished into private hands and into obscurity.  Over the next 70 years many became non-airworthy. The few still flying were repainted the traditional yellow Cub color, concealing the Flitfire's history.  As more was learned about their unique story, several were restored back to their original paint scheme.  In 1991 "Flitfire Wisconsin", the 22nd Cub to come off Piper's Flitfire line on 16 April 1941, was restored at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.  It was the first Flitfire aircraft in the United States to be restored to the original 1941 colors.
  Since then at least three other Flitfires are known to have been restored to their original silver-doped finish: "Flitfire NC1776", "Flitfire New Jersey" and "Flitfire Indiana".  After a meticulous restoration, "Flitfire NC1776" is on display at the North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro, North Carolina.  In 2015 "Flitfire New Jersey" won the Sentimental Journey Award for Best J-3 Cub.  Also as of 2015, twelve Flitfires are airworthy and registered with the FAA.  In 1963 a Flitfire was exported to Canada and in 1971 another was exported to Germany.  In 1992 the Flitfire in Germany was reported to still be flying.
caption: Flitfire NC1776 at the North Carolina Aviation Museum
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