Leading up to AirVenture, we will be highlighting airplanes that were at convention in 1970 and are returning in 2019 to celebrate 50 consecutive years in Oshkosh.
Paul Applegate’s 1940 J-3 Cub, N26989, was in Oshkosh for the very first EAA Oshkosh fly-in in 1970 and will be making an appearance again this year.
Paul purchased the plane in December of 1998 and since then has put more than 1,500 hours on it. This Cub has provided Paul and his family with a lot of special memories. Paul’s wife and two daughters learned how to fly in this airplane.
Paul said one of the more interesting pieces of history with his aircraft was that one of the Cole brothers from the Cole Brothers Airshow previously owned this plane in the 40s.
Since it was produced in 1940, this plane has consistently maintained its airworthiness certificate. Paul’s youngest daughter plans on flying it into OSH this year, alongside Paul who will be flying his Stinson.
“Bringing this cub back to AirVenture is a really neat feeling, it truly is,” Paul said. “When I read in that old Sport Aviation that it was here in 1970, it got me. I really enjoy the history of it. I love the early history of EAA, Paul Poberezny was my childhood hero.”