page_title: Piper J-4
section_title: J-4 development
hierarchical_section_title: Piper J-4 / J-4 development
caption_attribution_description: English: Harry G. Garland taxing his seaplane, bearing the Garland Manufacturing Company logo, on the Detroit River. In 1946 Garland’s Seaplane Base was one of 11 seaplane bases operating in Michigan. This Piper J-4A Cub Seaplane carried the registration number NC30815 and was powered by a Continental 65hp engine
context_page_description: The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two place side-by-side version of the Piper J-3 that was built between 1938 and 1942 by Piper Aircraft. It was Piper's first model with side-by-side seating; combined with docile low-speed handling, this made it a good trainer.
context_section_description: The fuselage of the J-4 was wider than the J-3 and the aircraft had a fully enclosed rear decking to the fuselage top. The first J-4s had a Continental 50 hp A50 engine with upward-facing exhaust ports, an open cowl, oil and spring landing gear, a modified tail wheel system and many other changes. The early J-4 had a comfortable cockpit but was slower than most side by side aircraft of the day. 
  The 1940 J-4A gained a fully enclosed cowling, a Continental 65 hp A65 engine, and aft auxiliary fuel. The J-4B was fitted with a 60 hp Franklin 4AC-171 engine. The final version was the 1941 J-4E which sported a 75 hp Continental engine and redesigned interior. The main fuel tank was moved to the wing along with a header tank. Performance was now on par with similar contemporary types, but the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed its fate as all civilian aircraft manufacture came to a stop with the entry of the United States into World War II.
  Some J-4s had another unique feature in the tail construction:  the stabilizer was made of stainless steel tubing, riveted together with gussets.
caption: Piper J-4A Cub Seaplane (owned by Garland Manufacturing Company) on the Detroit River in 1946.
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