Joe Costanza’s Cool Cub Videos

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J-3 owner Joe Costanza has tons of fun with his Cub, as this AVweb video short he contributed clearly shows. His is a 1941 J-3 with an A65 engine.

“I bought it from a Southwest Mechanic out of Mallards Landing Fly-In Community in Georgia. I’ve always found the Cub to be the epitome of ‘vintage aviation’ and the quintessential taildragger. It’s also pretty affordable and easy to fly. I’ve always loved photography and recently got into videography.

I like taking these videos because they do more than words ever could. I try to show the beauty in the simplicity of the Cub and the forgotten about grass strip. I try to show just how fun the Cub is and how easy it is to get in and out of small airports that would otherwise be off limits in something like a new Cirrus.

As far as the vortices shot, it’s something I had envisioned for a while and just had to wait it out until I had the perfect atmospheric conditions. I did three touch and goes and was able to get the last one timed perfectly. The drone shots are a little bit more challenging and require a lot more planning. I only do those after getting permission from the airport owner/manager, only do it very early a.m. and I bring a certified drone pilot and make two-way radio calls to ensure there is no other traffic in the area. We brief the shot before we take and so far, haven’t had any close calls or ‘whoopsies.’ What I love about the drone shots are they are such a unique perspective that it really makes for a pretty epic shot.”

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5 COMMENTS

  1. I am sure that the J3 is as much fun and an airplane like the Super Cub PA18. I learned to fly on a PA18 way back in 1960 and after over 60 years of flying 18 different aircraft, I still look forward to getting into the Super Cub PA18 with a Lycoming 125 & 150 HP.

  2. I have a different opinion here. After years of flying 152, 172, and a 160 Warrior, I got into a 182. My flight instructor said that after this, you will never want to fly anything smaller. He was bloody right. Not rubbing elbows, putting just about anything I could fit through the doors, and having extended fuel tanks is quite addictive.

  3. I’m with you. That’s why I have a Cherokee 6. Widest cockpit in its class and plenty of fuel. Also able to carry over 900# with all that fuel.

  4. Walt, after all these years of flying, perhaps my mission has changed. I myself want to fly comfortably, quickly, and safely. A Cub doesn’t have those attributes compared to a 182. I am not saying that a 182 is the best option out there. But it does everything a 172 does but a whole lot better.

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