Interesting opinion below: Legend Cub owner Jim Dickson speaks fondly of his aircraft of choice. I am the proud owner of a 2006 Legend Cub, N177LC. During my fifty-five years of flying, I have owned twenty airplanes, including three J-3 Cubs. Each time I would sell a J-3, I would always regret it at a later date. It is such a fun flying airplane; the J-3 was also the first airplane that I instructed in. I soloed three students in the J-3 in 1963. To this day I think the J-3 type airplane is the best airplane to learn to fly in. Once you learn the basics in the J-3, you can transition to about any type of aircraft and fly it. When Legend Aircraft announced that it was going to build a new J-3, I was immediately attracted to it. At the time, I had built a Vans RV-8 which was a fantastic airplane. I flew to the Legend factory in Sulphur Springs, Texas, for a tour. After the tour, given by company owner Darin Hart, I was told to make myself at home and visit with anyone in the factory. I again walked through and visited with the builders at several stations. If I lived closer, I would apply for a job working at the factory, it seemed like such a fun place to work. After lunch, at a very nice restaurant across the street from the factory, Darin gave me a demo flight in a new Legend Cub; I was hooked. At the time, I was having a minor medical problem that would possibly be a problem renewing my second class medical, thus I was looking for a light-sport type aircraft. I advertised my RV-8 for sale and had several lookers, but no serious buyers. Finally I advertised that I would trade for a Legend Cub. The manufacturer of another Cub-like airplane called and said that he would be interested in a trade. It was not a Legend Cub, but it was a Cub-like airplane. We agreed on a trade and I flew the RV-8 out west and flew the Cub back home. Twelve hours to fly the RV-8 to Washington, thirty hours to fly the Cub-like plane to Florida. I kept the Cub-like plane for approximately five years, however every time I would see a J-3 Cub, I would want another one. I just liked the way it flew. Again, I talked to Darin Hart about rebuilding my old 1946 Cub that was for sale again. However, Darin convinced me that I could purchase a used Legend Cub for about the same amount of money as rebuilding the 1946 J-3. I gave Darin my phone number and asked him to call me if a used Legend Cub became available. I sold my Cub like plane and a week later found the 2006 Legend Cub that I now own. I fly my Legend Cub once or twice a week, and last year put 75 hours on the plane. It is a basic J-3 Cub and has no maintenance issues, I simply fly it and change the oil every 25 hours. Legend has taken the J-3 Cub, which was a very good plane to start with, and simply made it better. An electrical system, no hand propping the plane, radios for controlled fields, two wing tanks for better range, and solo flight from either seat. I would recommend any flight school to start students out in the Legend Cub. Then after they have soloed get as much time in the Cub as possible prior to transitioning to a more advanced plane for the instrument rating and complex training. Once you own a Legend Cub, you will always have one, a great flying plane and the most fun flying plane that you can fly. After 55 years of flying and 27,000 hours, the Legend Cub is one of my favorite airplanes. I love my Legend Cub! Jim Dickson ATP CE-500 F27 DC-9 CFI A&I Ground Instructor A&I A&P Mechanic P.S. I retired as a pilot from Ozark/TWA airline in 1992, and worked for two other airlines and an air ambulance company. I am presently retired and live in Cape Coral, Florida. Legend Cub The Legend Cub is todays equivalent to the lovable Piper J-3 Cub.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 09:32:00 +0000