| Flitfire Cub | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Flitfire Wisconsin" Rickenbacker Airport Columbus Ohio, July 1991 | |
| Role | Multipurpose light civil aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft |
| First flight | 27 April 1941 |
| Produced | 10 – 22 April 1941 |
| Number built | 51[1][a] |
The Flitfire is a special edition of the Piper J-3 Cub that was used to raise funds to support the British war effort in World War II. The name "Flitfire" is a play on words referring to the RAF's most well-known fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire, which was and is a symbol of British resistance during the Battle of Britain.
In April 1941, prior to the United States' entry into World War II, Piper Aircraft and its distributors donated special edition Piper J-3 Cubs as a publicity event[5] and a fundraiser for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.[6] These donated Cubs — painted with Royal Air Force insignia — were known as "Flitfires."
This fund raising program consisted of 49 Flitfire aircraft, one paid for by Piper Aircraft and 48 by Piper distributors. All were built by Piper. There was a Flitfire named for each of the 48 states in the union at that time.[7][8] These airplanes were colloquially known as "The Flitfire Brigade."[6][9][10]
- ^ Johnson, Dennis K. (May 2019), "A Flitfire Flies Again", Piper Flyer, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 36–45, retrieved December 16, 2021
- ^ "The Plane on the Cover". Flying. July 1941. p. 58. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Shindig at N. Y. Airport Opens Fund Drive for R.A.F.". LIFE. May 12, 1941. pp. 36–37.
- ^ "48 Cubs Touring U. S. for RAF Funds". Aero Digest. June 1941.
- ^ "How to Fly a Piper Cub". AOPA Pilot Magazine. AOPA: 59. July 1, 1986.
- ^ a b "Here and There, Fund Raising Flitfires". Flight. XXXIX (90): 349. May 15, 1941. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Piper RAF Benevolent Fund Flitfire Promotion".
- ^ "Flitfire". Alamo Liaison Squadron. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
- ^ "Cover of 'Plane on the Cover'". Flying and Popular Aviation: Front Cover. July 1941. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
- ^ "The Plane on the Cover". Flying and Popular Aviation: 58. July 1941. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
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