Piper PA-11 Cub Insurance Cost

Piper PA-11 Cub Overview:

The Piper J-3 Cub is a legendary airplane. Even people with no aviation experience know the name, and the bright “Cub Yellow” paint ensured it stood out no matter where it was parked. The Cub however was a pre-war design and though production had been exceptionally successful, Piper elected to make a few notable changes and introduce a new aircraft to help capture the vast amount of available postwar sales.

Two production Cubs were modified for testing the new model, designated the PA-11 and named the Cub Special. Though the fabric-covered steel tube fuselage remained the same as the Cub, both seats were shifted very slightly aft. Most notably this allowed the aircraft to be flown by a solo pilot from the front seat, whereas a Cub had to be flown solo from the rear seat. The single fuel tank was moved from in front of the instrument panel to inside the left-wing and the windshield was extended to the rear of the engine cowling which was modified to bulge out and conceal the exposed cylinders of the engine, long a trademark of the Cub line.

Though Cubs had featured engines ranging from as low as 37 horsepower to as high as 65, for the Cub Special the Continental 65 horsepower would be the base model engine. Testing on the modified Cubs began in late 1946 and serial production began in March 1947. Though originally painted in a blue scheme, PA-11s would ultimately revert to the classic Cub Yellow like their predecessor. 1948 would bring the option of a 90 horsepower Continental engine which was particularly popular with operators based at high altitude and hot weather locations as well as those who were putting their Specials on floats. In just over two years Piper produced over 1,500 Cub Specials at Lock Haven and a second production line in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Though the production run of the Cub Special was short, it would leave a lasting mark on the Cub line. The modified fuselage and cowling would be the basis for the new PA-18 Super Cub which would debut in 1949 and remain in production until 1983, with over 15,000 made. Cub Specials today hold a unique place in Piper history for much the same reasons they sold as well as they did in the 1940s – improvements in performance over the J-3 while maintaining the docile flying characteristics and classic Piper feeling that made the Cub a household name.

Piper PA-11 Cub Insurance Cost:

Aviation insurance in general, is a very specialized industry and premiums vary depending on make and model of the aircraft, hull value, use of the aircraft, pilot history and qualifications and aircraft insurance rates even take into account the loss history of each specific make and model and the loss history of the aviation industry as a whole.

Piper PA-11 Cub insurance, like all aviation insurance, is broken down into 2 specific coverages. The first is Liability Coverage, which is standard on every aircraft insurance policy and the second is optional hull coverage, which covers damage to the aircraft itself.

Piper PA-11 Cub aviation liability insurance covers damage caused by the aircraft, outside of the aircraft, specifically property damage, bodily injury, and provides for legal defense in the event that the aircraft owner or policyholder is sued.

Aircraft liability insurance is typically offered for Piper PA-11 Cub’s at $1,000,000 per occurrence (per incident) and includes coverage for passengers, but typically limits that amount to between $100,000 and $1,000,000 per passenger. Passenger liability coverage is included within the total liability coverage amount.

A real-world example of how this aviation liability coverage would protect you: If, as a result of operating your Piper PA-11 Cub you damaged property or caused bodily injury outside of the aircraft, you would have the full amount of total liability coverage to pay for damages that occurred, less the liability amount paid for passengers inside the aircraft. If the aircraft crashed and you had passengers inside the aircraft that were injured, your insurance policy would pay up to the policy passenger limit for each passenger.

This liability coverage also applies as a bubble that follows the aircraft around. If the aircraft is hangered, liability coverage extends throughout your hangar and it is this coverage that airports will typically require you to have. It’s not a separate insurance policy, it is actually coverage built into your standards airplane insurance policy.

Other liability options: Higher liability coverage on the Piper PA-11 Cub may be available to qualified pilots with experience in the make and model and a minimum Private License/IFR rating.

The second coverage on a Piper PA-11 Cub insurance policy is hull coverage and is an optional coverage. Aircraft hull insurance covers damage to the aircraft itself and is an agreed value, not subject to depreciation. Agreed value is decided during the initial insurance quoting process, the aircraft owner requests an insurance quote for his or her Piper PA-11 Cub and requests a quote including hull coverage in the amount of say $45,000. Once an aviation insurance company provides a quote, they are agreeing with you that your aircraft is worth $45,000.
*Insurance companies may place additional stipulations on quotes to prove the value of your aircraft prior to binding, if your agreed value is higher than bluebook.

Most aviation insurance companies do not offer deductibles higher than $0 deductibles, which means in the event of a total loss, if your aircraft was insured for $45,000, you would get a straight check for $45,000.

Piper PA-11 Cub Insurance Cost Breakdown:

As of January 2021, there are 5 carriers quoting Piper PA-11 Cub insurance in the U.S. We consider qualified pilots to have at least a Private License with 200 total hours, 100 tailwheel hours and 25 hours in the make/model.

For an annual policy with $1,000,000 in liability only coverage.
 Premium range for qualified pilots: $450-$600 per year.
 Premium range for less than qualified pilots (low-time/etc): $675-950 per year.

For an annual policy with $1,000,000 in liability coverage and $45,000 in hull coverage
 Premium range for qualified pilots: $1,650-$2,100 per year.
 Premium range for less than qualified pilots (low-time/etc): $2,840-$4,100 per year.

BWI is a family-owned, nationwide insurance brokerage specializing in aviation insurance since 1977. Our dedicated Aviation Insurance Professionals are highly trained, hand-picked and experienced in helping Piper PA-11 Cub owners and operators obtain the very best insurance coverage.

BWI offers comprehensive Piper PA-11 Cub insurance policies for personal, business, charter, industrial aid, and commercial aviation uses.

For more information or to get an actual Piper PA-11 Cub insurance quote, please fill out a quote request online here or call us at 800.666.4359