American Legend Aircraft Company is a top-tier provider of restoration services for tube-and-fabric aircraft. The company's team of specialists has from 20 to 35 years of individual experience in aircraft maintenance and restoration. Our expertise at repair and restoration of tube-and-fabric airplanes is second to none. We would like to put this experience to work for you.

   For more than 75 years, vintage and classic airplanes such as the Piper Super Cub, Aeronca Champ and a host of others have remained at the heart of recreational flying. Still today it's hard to match the one-of-a-kind experience of flying these great aircraft. After undergoing restoration by American Legend Aircraft Company, your vintage or classic aircraft will perform like new for years to come.

   American Legend Aircraft Company provides complete rebuild services ranging from STC modifications, to structural repairs, to interior and exterior finishes. An array of available options will satisfy the most discriminating pilots and owners.

• Supplemental Type Certificates (STC), such as the 2,000-lb gross weight modification, are available to enhance performance and offer better-than-the-factory-original standards.
• Attention to detail in our work shows.
• Safety is always a top priority.
• We are an EAA award winning Cub restoration provider.
• We can assist with experimental aircraft restorations.
• We can provide ready-to-install avionics packages.
• We know them all, including Piper J-3, PA-11, PA12, PA-18, L-Birds, T-Craft, Champs, and more.
• We can restore your unusable aircraft to proper flying condition by building the necessary parts, or we can update your aged aircraft to like-new condition.
• We also build kit and certified new aircraft, so our breadth of knowledge, access to parts and materials, and manufacturing capability is unmatched in the industry.

   We rebuild QUALITY aircraft at a reasonable price. You can trust American Legend Aircraft Company, because we care about the work we do. We will ensure that you receive the airplane you've dreamed of. For rebuild, repair, recover, paint or avionics quote, click here.

Newly Restored J3 - November 2008

1947 Piper Cub, model J3C-65

Before restoration:

2008 Grand Champion Gold Lindy Award Winner

This original 1946 Piper Cub, model J3C-65, aircraft was received in storm damaged condition. It arrived disassembled from Joe Dobransky of Allen, Texas. Upon inspection, it was noted that although many parts were reusable, most were in deteriorated and non-airworthy condition. Modifications and repairs included the following.

A crack was identified in one original wood wing spar. As a result, new Dakota Cub aluminum wings were installed at a cost of around $7K each. These come pre-assembled, requiring only cover and installation. A new tail, both structure and cover, and new tail brace wires were installed. New Univair doors and windows including cover were added upon finding the originals had many deformations, cracks, breaks, and were modified with additional holes.

The original 65-horsepower Continental engine was removed, then sent for overhaul by DivCo of Tulsa, Oklahoma. New cases and new Superior Millennium cylinders were fitted and installed. The original 65-horsepower was preserved to maintain the integrity of this vintage aircraft. A new Sensenich wood propeller was installed.

The Cub's brakes were inspected and found to be in usable condition. These were cleaned, overhauled, and reinstalled. An new interior and all new Plexiglass windows were installed.

The aircraft was re-covered with Ceconite polyester fabric, inside and out, and given a new coat of polyurethane paint.

Instruments were sent to Rudy Aircraft Instruments in Rudy, Arkansas, where they were restored to original condition with newly silk-screened faces and glass. A new instrument panel blank was supplied by Clyde Smith Jr.

The restored, completed Piper Cub weighs approximately 100 lbs. less than a modern Legend Cub—a testament to the frugality of Piper's designers, and also to the simplicity of feature offerings. For example, sealed wing struts replaced rusted originals in this aircraft. Also replaced were other undocumented modifications such as a metal baggage compartment cover. The new cover is back to its original plywood configuration.

At AirVenture 2008, Joe Dobransky was awarded 2008 Grand Champion Gold Lindy in the Classic Aircraft (September 1945 thru 1955) category for the work performed by American Legend Aircraft Company on this aircraft.

For more photos of the 2008 Grand Champion Gold Lindy, click here.

Identity Crisis Solved

This aircraft arrived as a clipped wing J-3 Cub, although an investigation determined that it was originally manufactured in 1944 as an L-4 liaison aircraft. Post-war 1945, Piper converted many L-4 models produced for military use to J-3 models intended for sale in a civilian capacity. The most notable modification was the D-shaped window of the J-3. The restoration to this aircraft required cutting the frame of the larger L-4 window and welding in new structure for the D-shaped frame. This frame was made from scratch and built to original Piper drawing specifications. A jig was built to maintain dimensional accuracy during welding. Additional structural repairs included the creation of a V-channel, or hat section, that forms the backbone of the airframe.

One variation to the L-4 pertained to the way Piper designed the installation of windows. A series of nuts and bolts, inside and out, made this process tedious. The solution was to install nutplates in place of the nuts, thus making this a single person task. Another contemporary modification included the installation of an electric starter via STC. Becker radios and transponder were installed in the instrument panel. Bose headset jacks were also installed for front and rear seats, an available option on the Legend Cub.

As this aircraft had arrived in a J-3 configuration, the rear seat was fixed and forward facing. In the L-4, the rear seat was often used by a spotter passenger. This reversible back seat was restored to its original configuration. Installing the rear-facing seat required remaking the floor panel, lengthening it to accommodate the rear-facing passenger. The owner of this newly restored L-4 resides in Wisconsin where he enjoys flying this aircraft with his wife along with their recently purchased Legend Cub.

American Legend Aircraft Company performed a complete restoration on this important aircraft, returning it to its historic roots as a World War II liaison/spotter plane.

Yellow Bird Gets An Upgrade

Super Cub Before	And After Restoration...

Are You Ready To Restore?

Searching for the right aircraft to restore and enjoy? Be sure to read the article "Basket-Case Basics," printed in the January 2006 edition of Sport Aviation. Author Jeff Simon examines the how-tos and buyer bewares of locating and purchasing the aircraft that's right for you. Here are some recommendations:

• Make a plan by getting an accurate analysis of the scope, timeline, and cost of the project.
• Set a benchmark by figuring out exactly what it would cost you to buy one that's already in great shape.
• Review the logbooks and conduct a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
• Be prepared for challenging and enjoyable experience.

If you are unable or unwilling to do much of the work yourself, be sure to contact American Legend Aircraft Company Restoration Services for assistance with your project.