The Taylor Cub, marketed by the Taylor Aircraft Company, first flew in
1930. When Taylor ran into financial difficulties, W.T. Piper formed
the Piper Aircraft Corporation in 1937 and acquired the manufacturing and
marketing rights to the Cub.
The two-seat (in tandem) Cub sold well when the engine was
upgraded. In 1941 the U.S. Army evaluated the Cub as an artillery
spotter and purchased the aircraft as the O-59. Later in the liaison
role, the Cub was redesignated the L-4 Grasshopper.
Over 14,000 civil and 5,700 military J-3s were produced.
