Piper 18 Super Cub vs Piper PA-25 Pawnee

Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.

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Dimensions & configuration

Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.

Piper 18 Super Cub
35 ft × 22 ft ⭥ 7 ft
1× Piston Conventional Unpressurized
Piper PA-25 Pawnee
36 ft × 25 ft ⭥ 7 ft
1× Piston Conventional Unpressurized

Flight Profile

Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.

Tap legend to isolate

Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.

Mission Performance

Stall, approach, cruise, range, ceiling and climb: best values are at the top.

Mission performance specifications
Specification Piper 18 Super CubPiper PA-25 Pawnee
Stall speed 41 kt53 kt
Approach speed 61 kt69 kt
Cruise speed 100 kt87 kt
Range 400 nm260 nm
Service ceiling 19000 ft13000 ft
Rate of climb 960 fpm630 fpm
Fuel burn 9.0 gph13.0 gph

Each axis is scaled independently across the compared aircraft and printed in its own units; every vertex sits at the published figure. Higher is better on all axes: Stall, Approach and Fuel Burn are inverted (lower = higher). A missing figure breaks the line at that axis.

Fuel Burn & Range

Range, endurance, and what the fuel costs by the hour.

Piper 18 Super Cub Avgas
9.0 gph
Baseline
400 nm range 11.1 nm/gal 36 gal usable $58 fuel/hr 4h 00m endurance
Piper 18 Super Cub: 9.0 gph at cruise, 400 nautical mile published range, 4 hour 0 minute endurance, 11.1 nautical miles per gallon.
Piper PA-25 Pawnee Avgas
13.0 gph
Baseline
260 nm range 6.7 nm/gal 38 gal usable $84 fuel/hr 2h 55m endurance
Piper PA-25 Pawnee: 13.0 gph at cruise, 260 nautical mile published range, 2 hour 55 minute endurance, 6.7 nautical miles per gallon.
Avgas range each cell = 1 hr of cruise · width scales with speed tank-dry · at this cruise burn

Bars show published still-air range: select a cell to view cruise-hours and fuel usage. Endurance is full tank at the displayed cruise burn rate; the extra is reserve and economy margin. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.

Runway Performance

Density altitude adjusted estimates

Outside Air Temp
0°F57°F115°F
Field Elevation
SL4,0008,000 ft

Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle

Landing over 50 ft obstacle

Density Altitude

Monte cristo

Base distance DA penalty
Scale: 6,000 ft

FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.

Estimated Operating Costs

Hourly direct and annual fixed costs

Scale:
Piper 18 Super Cub Avgas
$86 /hr
Baseline
Piper 18 Super Cub: $86 per flight hour — fuel $58, maintenance and reserve $28.
Piper PA-25 Pawnee Avgas
$129 /hr
Baseline
Piper PA-25 Pawnee: $129 per flight hour — fuel $84, maintenance and reserve $45.
Piper 18 Super Cub Piston
$7,106 /yr Baseline
Piper 18 Super Cub: $7,106 per year — insurance withheld, hangar $5,606, annual inspection $1,500.
Piper PA-25 Pawnee Piston
$11,095 /yr Baseline
Piper PA-25 Pawnee: $11,095 per year — insurance $1,900, hangar $6,195, annual inspection $3,000.

Estimates only. Hourly direct operating cost, based on fuel price and reserves; Annual fixed costs (insurance, hangar, and inspection). Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.

Capability & limits

Payload vs useful load limit

+ cargo
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Piper 18 Super Cub Piston
2 / 2 seats cargo 36 gal / 36 gal fuel 604 lbs wet payload 820 lbs useful 1,750 lbs MTOW
Piper PA-25 Pawnee Piston
1 / 1 seats cargo 38 gal / 38 gal fuel 1,184 lbs wet payload 1,412 lbs useful 2,900 lbs MTOW

Shows selected occupants against full fuel, within the aircraft's useful-load limit. Fuel weight at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas; pax and luggage are 190 + 30 . Change payload weights in global settings.

Payload-Range Map

Origin: → · two fingers to move map

+ cargo
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