Piper J-3 Cub

AIRCRAFT ADDON FOR MSFS

Classic Aircraft Systems

The enduring simplicity of the Cub comes to MSFS by Peter Stark

The Piper Cub remains a popular low cost ‘weekender’ and this philosophy extends to the Classic Aircraft Simulations model.

Despite the universal appeal of the Piper Cub, the pickings have been a bit thin for sim pilots who want that extra level of realism and enjoyment from one of the most nostalgic aircraft of the past 90 years. Have our hopes been answered? Let’s review the new Classic Air Simulations (CAS) Piper J-3 Cub.

A long and illustrious life

Regular readers of PC Pilot will have read the amusing story of how the J-3 Cub came into being during our Flight Adventure in Issue 153. A combination of a creative accountant and a clever designer ultimately resulted in what would become an enduring design because of its simplicity, reliability, low cost and ease of use. Sometimes dubbed the Model T Ford of aviation, the Cub also continued to evolve into a range of similar aircraft right up to this day where carbon fibre variants which closely follow the original design are still produced.

Kickin’ the tyres

The Cub isn’t a big aircraft and so you would hope that attention to details and textures would be spot on and reflect the Cub’s real ‘identity’. After all, the Cub is such a classic that many potential customers are well aware of the aircraft, its history and features.

Aircraft Simulations certainly seem to have met the challenge. Getting up close and personal reveals the beautiful detail throughout, including in some places you might not expect. The textures show the cut of the fuselage and wing fabric where they are drawn taut over the airframe and doped, the bracing wires and crimp connections, circular scratches on the canopies from polishing and much more.

The package includes the conventional wheeled, tundra tyre and float variations. The conventional wheeled version allows the optional wheel pants to be selected via the pilot’s tablet (which we will take a closer look at below). The engine too is a texture artist’s labour of love. The exhaust baffles and cylinder head covers are pitted from use over time and even the welds are beautifully textured. The rocker covers can be swapped between chrome and matt black via the tablet according to your preference and paint job. You are able to select from three basic liveries but each of those in turn has new and clean or used and dirty options.

Even more awaits you when you move around the aircraft and remove the engine cowling clips by clicking on them with your mouse. You have to remove all of them or you won’t be able to lift off the cowling but once you have, the engine is fully exposed and again it seems every little detail has been modelled. The propeller shows all the laminations and varnish of a fine craftsman, right down to the rivets holding on the strike plates on the leading edges.

Moving inside is achieved by opening the door hatch and side window which is again via your mouse but with a difference. Should you not latch the window to the wing correctly, it will come crashing back down and bounce on the airframe – complete with relevant sound effects. Similarly, the door hatch can be opened in flight and will behave according to the dynamics of the airflow. So side slip with it open and it will respond to the airflow as you move in different directions.

You have the option of a sterile clean and tidy Cub, or a well used and loved model such as this – which would you choose?

Removing the engine cowl reveals more amazing details.

The package includes a float version which boasts some custom spray effects for added realism.

The Cub has never boasted a complex panel full of modern avionics or ergonomic seating, so the developer has instead continued to focus its attention on the little things that make any sim product more immersive. Moving the joystick and rudder pedals results in all the steel control cables also moving in unison - again with sound effects if you’re too heavy fisted.

While Cub pilots of yesteryear didn’t have the benefit of an electronic tablet to manage their aircraft. CAS has equipped its Cub with one and it serves as a centre for managing many of the features and options of this aircraft. You can use it to not only select options such as the matching wheel pants and tie downs but also to expand your avionics suite by adding turn and balance indicators, or even changing the standard white gauge faces to black variants.

Again using the tablet, you can add a front seat passenger who will in fact lean as the aircraft banks. Those who have flown the A2A Simulations Cub back in FSX might remember ‘Heidi’. She reacted in a similar way (but was much more vocal!) and CAS has added an extra layer of fun by making its passenger more animated than most products. One thing you notice as soon as you add someone to the front seat of a Cub is that you can’t see any of the gauges clearly. Simply give your passenger a push with your mouse and she moves aside to let you check on the gauges. Awesome!

The 85hp engine was renowned, like many early period piston engines, for burning through engine oil. So yes, this too is modelled and exists as an option for the aircraft to remember your engine, fuel and oil state between flights. You had better double check those fluid levels regularly.

Damage is modelled which I clearly demonstrated numerous times. There is a ‘cheat’ however to get you ready to fly again within moments.

The included tundra tyre model will also keep the bush pilots happy.

The EFB tablet hosts a wide variety of available options and features.

Flight test

No matter which variant you choose, starting can be both fun and frustrating – just like the real Cub! If you follow the correct fuel priming and prop rotation strokes, which is done by ‘throwing’ the prop with your mouse, you can usually get it running quickly. But pick an exceptionally cold or hot day and don’t prime correctly, you can expect to flood the engine and have to drain the fuel. The ‘Ctrl E’ engine start shortcut is supported (if you really must) but strongly discouraged! During the engine warm-up you can see the slight vibration of the engine on its mounts and a little oil blowing off as grey smoke.

All of this and we haven’t even become airborne yet. The same detail extends to the flight dynamics where additional weight, crosswinds and high density altitude can definitely conspire to ruin your day. But flying in less extreme conditions is just so much fun and relaxing where you have the time and visibility to enjoy the terrain and atmospheric features of MSFS. The flight dynamics are excellent with all the models feeling just right.

Should you get a little low on fuel while exploring, simply land and open the fuel tank by clicking the filler cap on top of the engine cowling. After activating the fuel can via the tablet, it appears next to the engine cowling.

It is hard to find a more enjoyable way to fly low and slow.

Through a series of clicks, it moves to the top of the cowl and then pours in the petrol as the fuel level on the tablet rises accordingly. When you’re done, another series of simple clicks removes the fuel can allowing you to again replace the fuel cap before heading off on your way with replenished tanks.

But what happens when things don’t go so well? Aircraft damage is also modelled, including the visual failures of the propeller and landing gear, which are usually accompanied by billowing black smoke from the engine.

Perhaps anticipating some early failures and ‘runway excursions’, CAS has coded a ‘cheat’ where you can simply turn the sim slew mode on and off again to reset the failures and damage so you can continue on your way without having to restart the whole sim. Thank you!

What I find remarkable given the quality of the product is its price. At €16.50 (£13.30)[1] for a fully featured and detailed Cub in three variants is crazy value. I asked the developer how many products he had released prior to the Cub. The answer? None! He graduated in computer science just last year but is a long term flight simulation enthusiast – and it shows. This is his very first attempt and what a stunner it is.

Conclusion

The CAS Cub is an absolute blast. Given the low price point, potential customers could be forgiven thinking it is simplistic in nature but nothing could be further from the truth. This is a wonderfully crafted product with great attention to all the details that make sim flying so much fun and completely immersive.