J3 piper cub
The Piper J-3 Cub is one of the most recognisable and beloved light aircraft in aviation history. Developed in the United States during the 1930s, the Cub traces its roots back to the Taylor E-2 Cub, designed by C. Gilbert Taylor and originally produced by the Taylor Aircraft Company. When investor William T. Piper took over the struggling company in 1937, he refined the design and rebranded the business as Piper Aircraft Corporation. The result was the J-3 Cub - simple, affordable, and endlessly versatile.
Traditionally with bright yellow paint, tandem seating, and a fabric-covered frame, the Cub quickly earned a reputation as “the Model T of the air”. It was ideal for primary training, private ownership, and utility roles — offering just enough performance to be useful, but forgiving enough for new pilots to handle. During WWII, nearly 20,000 Cubs were built, with many used for military liaison, training, and reconnaissance roles under the name L-4 Grasshopper.
In New Zealand, only three J-3 ‘New Cubs’ were imported before the war - one 40hp model (ZK-AHC) and two 50hp models (ZK-AHE and ZK-AHD) making them a rare sight today compared to the far more numerous Tiger Moth. Despite their scarcity, the Cub’s gentle flying characteristics, forgiving handling, and low operating cost earned them a loyal following among aero clubs and private pilots alike .
A History of ZK-AHD
Manufactured in the United States in early 1939, ZK-AHD is one of the earliest Piper J-3 Cubs built, and was one of three aircraft of her type imported into New Zealand that year. On 20 April 1939, she was officially registered as ZK-AHD to J.R. Franklin, a farmer from Pōrangahau in Central Hawke’s Bay - already a familiar name in New Zealand aviation circles.
In 1938, Franklin had imported ZK-AGD, a Taylor Cub powered by an A40 engine - one of the first examples of its kind in the country. Though AGD was always intended for the Wanganui Aero Club, Franklin was instrumental in both its acquisition and operations, and the aircraft’s presence helped seed further interest in more modern and cost effective training aircraft among New Zealand’s regional aero clubs.
Unlike many civilian aircraft of the time, ZK-AHD was not taken up by the RNZAF during World War II. Instead, she spent the war years stored at Pōrangahau — although later recollections suggest Franklin may have received a limited fuel allocation to use AHD for coastal patrols, keeping watch for suspicious maritime activity.
After the war, she returned to the skies and in 1948, Franklin flew her all the way to Dunedin to attend the Otago Centennial RNZAC pageant at Taieri - an ambitious cross-country journey for a 50hp Cub! She also attended the 1949 RNZAC pageant at Mangere in Auckland.
In 1955, her registration passed to Franklin’s son, J.W. Franklin, and two years later she was sold to the Central Hawke’s Bay Aero Club, who operated her until 1960. That year, she was sold to R.A. Armstrong of Hastings and, remaining in the family, was later passed to John L. Armstrong in 1975. It was during this period that AHD spent a number of years stored at Masterton.
After this period of storage ZK-AHD returned to the skies on 17 January 2014 remaining in John Armstrong’s care, but operated by the Wairarapa Flying Tigers Inc. and based at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, where she has since become a familiar sight in local skies.
We are incredibly grateful to the Armstrongs for entrusting the next period of her custodianship with us. She is a very important part of the Legend Aviation collection, and continues her 80+ year flying story as one of the oldest, most charming aircraft still operating in New Zealand and one of the few J3 Cubs in the world still powered by a Continental A-50, 50hp engine.
Unfortunately, ZK-AHD is not available for adventure aviation flights
