Piper PA-18 Super Cub financing, specs & price
STOL legend, floats/skis, rugged. Built 1949-1994; Lycoming O-320/O-360 (150-180 hp); 2 seats; 100-knot cruise.
What a PA-18 Super Cub costs to finance
Payment examples at three price points, using typical lender guidelines for single-engine aircraft and a 7.75% illustrative APR. Your rate depends on credit, loan size, term and the specific airplane.
| Example | Price | Down | Loan | Term | Payment @ 7.75% | Range @ 6.99–9.99% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older / higher-time | $45,000 | 15% ($6,750) | $38,250 | 15 yrs | $360/mo | $344–$411 |
| Mid-market (most common) | $80,000 | 15% ($12,000) | $68,000 | 15 yrs | $640/mo | $611–$730 |
| Late / low-time | $150,000 | 15% ($22,500) | $127,500 | 20 yrs | $1,047/mo | $988–$1,230 |
Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Prices are typical asking ranges from our aircraft database — verify any specific airplane with Vref or Aircraft Bluebook and a pre-buy inspection. Not a quote or commitment to lend.
Get real numbers for your PA-18 Super Cub
Share the tail number or listing and your timeline — a specialist will price it across multiple lenders.
PA-18 Super Cub specifications & operating economics
Performance & capacity
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320/O-360 (150-180 hp)
- Production
- 1949-1994
- Seats
- 2
- Cruise
- 100 kts
- Range
- 460 NM
- Fuel capacity
- 36 gal
Fuel economics (September 2026)
- Fuel burn
- 8 gph
- Fuel cost per hour
- $58
- Fuel cost per nautical mile
- $0.58
- Endurance (no reserve)
- 4.5 hrs
- Fuel for 100 hrs/yr
- $5,792
100LL at $7.24/gal (AirNav national average, September 2026).
What lenders and underwriters look at on a PA-18 Super Cub
- Strong resale—backcountry demand
- Fabric wings require periodic recover
- STOL/bush mods affect insurability
- Tailwheel proficiency required
Pre-buy inspection focus areas
- Fabric wing condition
- Fuselage tube corrosion
- Landing gear bungee cords
- Float attach points (if applicable)
- Tail spring condition
Pre-buy inspections are typically paid out of pocket, not financed. See the pre-buy checklist.
Piper PA-18 Super Cub financing FAQs
How much does a Piper PA-18 Super Cub cost?
Typical asking prices for a Piper PA-18 Super Cub run from about $45,000 for older or higher-time examples to $150,000 for late, low-time ones, with most trading near $80,000. Engine time, avionics, damage history and paint/interior drive the spread — confirm with a Vref or Aircraft Bluebook valuation and a pre-buy inspection.
What is the monthly payment on a Piper PA-18 Super Cub?
At a $80,000 purchase price with 15% down ($12,000), a $68,000 loan over 15 years is about $640 per month at 7.75% APR, or roughly $611–$730 across the 6.99%–9.99% range lenders published as of September 2026. Principal and interest only.
How much down payment do I need for a Piper PA-18 Super Cub?
Plan on at least 15% down for a single-engine aircraft built after 1960, and about 20% for examples built before 1960. Twenty-year terms are generally available on loans of $75,000 or more.
What does a Piper PA-18 Super Cub cost to fly per hour in fuel?
At about 8 gallons per hour and the September 2026 national average of $7.24 per gallon for 100LL, fuel alone is roughly $58 per hour, or about $0.58 per nautical mile at a 100-knot cruise. Add reserves, insurance, storage and the annual for the full picture.
Can I finance an older Piper PA-18 Super Cub?
Usually, yes. Lenders finance piston singles without a fixed age limit, though pre-1960 aircraft may need a larger down payment and shorter term, and airframes over 10,000 hours are often excluded. Complete logbooks, AD compliance and a clean pre-buy matter more than the year on an older PA-18 Super Cub.
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