NE-1

The Piper NE‑1 was the United States Navy’s designation for a modified version of the civilian Piper J‑3 Cub, produced from 1940 through the early 1940s. Designed as a primary trainer for naval aviators, the aircraft entered service shortly after the United States entered World War II, providing an inexpensive, easy‑to‑maintain platform for basic flight instruction, take‑off and landing practice, and instrument training. The airframe retained the J‑3’s high‑wing, fabric‑covered structure and tandem‑seat cockpit, but incorporated a strengthened fuselage, larger fuel tank, and a 65‑horsepower Continental O‑170‑1 or O‑170‑3 engine to meet naval specifications. Additional features included a naval‑type radio, an all‑metal propeller, and a distinctive navy‑blue paint scheme with white tail markings. Over 3,000 NE‑1s were built by Piper and by licensed manufacturers, and they served at countless Naval Air Stations across the United States and in the Pacific theater. The aircraft’s simple handling, low operating cost, and rugged construction made it an ideal stepping stone for pilots progressing to more complex aircraft, and it helped standardize pilot training procedures during a critical period of expansion in naval aviation overall.

Piper Aircraft

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Design & Classification