Traces the history of the Piper Cub, describes each model and its markings, and looks at the many ways the plane has been used.

Betjeningsforskrift og instruktionsbog for Piper Cub.

A history of the world-famous Piper light planes from their origin as a brainchild of Clarence G. Taylor through the series of fabric-covered, high-wing, single-engine descendants that preserved the aircraft's general profile. The ultimate success of the company through many crises was due to the philosophy of William T. Piper, Sr. who believed that light planes for student instruction and airport flying services could be produced profitably at low cost. He became known as "the Henry Ford of aviation" as the company produced more light aircraft than any other manufacturer in the world. The text includes many uses of the various models, interesting modifications and experimental spin-offs. It concludes with accounts of several adventurers who flew their vintage Cubs without radios, blind flying instruments or navigational aids.

Writer Rinker Buck looks back more than 30 years to a summer when he and his brother, at ages 15 and 17 respectively, became the youngest duo to fly across America, from New Jersey to California. Having grown up in an aviation family, the two boys bought an old Piper Cub, restored it themselves, and set out on the grand journey. Buck is a great storyteller, and once you get airborne with the boys you find yourself absorbed in a story of adventure and family drama. And Flight of Passage is also an affecting look back to the summer of 1966, when the times seemed much less cynical and adventures much more enjoyable.

During World War II the ability of American ground forces to advance in the face of fierce resistance was largely dependent on the precision of artillery barrages. Aerial observation was frequently the only effective means to locate enemy targets. For this mission the Army air corps used prewar light civilian airplanes (usually reconfigured Piper Cubs) known as Grasshoppers for their ability to take off from and land in tight places like dirt roads, grass fields, and ships. In addition to pinpointing enemy artillery, these aircraft were often assigned other missions - medical evacuations, reporting on enemy troop movements, and reconnaissance - often armed only with handguns. Julian W. Cummings began flying lightweight Piper Cubs as a young man and was recruited for the experimental and high-risk aerial reconnaissance unit of the U.S. Army's Third Infantry Division. In this memoir he chronicles his daring missions from first flights in the North African campaign through the end of the war. He flew 485 missions in both theaters, and for his extraordinary bravery in Sicily he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. these courageous men played in combat and adds valuable information to an understudied dimension of the war.

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