RC Cub Planes: J-3, Carbon Cub and Cessna Options

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The Piper J-3 Cub, its Super Cub and Carbon Cub descendants and the Cessna 182 and 150 are the shapes most pilots picture when they imagine a friendly airplane: high wing, big tires, slow flight. This guide sorts the current RC versions by size, from a 57 g micro to a giant-scale ARF, and notes which are in stock. It is based on manufacturer specifications and manuals, not on our own flying. Prices are left out because they change often, and stock was checked in October 2026. A surprising number of well-known Cub and Cessna models have been discontinued, so the picks below are the ones still available.

Quick picks

What matters in a Cub or Cessna

Gear layout. The Cub family is traditionally a tailwheel airplane, and the Cessna 182 is a nose-wheel airplane. Horizon describes the Carbon Cub S 2 as having oversized "tundra" tires and a steerable tailwheel, and calls the Carbon-Z Cessna 150T a taildragger (the "T" stands for it). A tailwheel airplane asks for more rudder attention on the ground, and a nose wheel tracks straighter. The landing gear guide covers the differences, and the simulator guide is a good way to practice the ground handling before the field.

Stabilization is an assist. HobbyZone's SAFE, E-flite's AS3X and the generic gyros on budget models reduce workload, but Horizon's manuals repeat that the airplane still needs to be flown manually. The flight controller guide explains what these systems do.

RTF, BNF, PNP and ARF. "RTF Basic" boxes from Horizon include a transmitter but not the battery or charger, and BNF versions need a compatible transmitter. The ARF, RTF and PNP guide explains each level, and the trainer guide compares non-Cub options.

Micro Cubs

HobbyZone Sport Cub S 2. A 24.3 in (617 mm) ultra-micro with a nose wheel, weighing 2 oz (57 g) without its 1S battery. Horizon rates it skill level 1, includes SAFE with Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced modes and Panic Recovery, and notes that it needs no FAA registration because it is under 250 g. It is sized "to fly in parks, at sports fields, or even indoors over a basketball court". The RTF includes the transmitter, and the BNF Basic lists a 6-channel minimum radio. Both were in stock.

VolantexRC Sport Cub 500. A 500 mm (19.7 in) EPP Cub with a 6-axis Xpilot gyro and three assist levels, a prop saver and a one-key aerobatics button. Volantex quotes about 20 minutes of flight time, which is a maker claim. The blue RTF was available on Volantex's store. The Sport Cub 500 write-up covers it in more detail.

HobbyZone XCub 450mm. An EPP 17.7 in (450 mm) micro weighing 2.5 oz (70.4 g) with its battery, skill level 1. It was on backorder at Horizon.

The E-flite UMX J-3 Cub and UMX Cessna 182, both formerly the go-to small Cub and Cessna, are discontinued at Horizon.

Park-scale Cubs

HobbyZone Carbon Cub S 2 1.3m. A 51.18 in (1,300 mm) EPO Cub weighing 913 g without a battery, with a 480-size brushless 960Kv motor, 3S power and SAFE with three modes plus Panic Recovery. It is a taildragger with tundra tires and a steerable tailwheel, and an optional SAFE Plus and Landing Assist Sensor can be added. Horizon rates it skill level 1. The RTF Basic includes a DXS transmitter, but not the battery or charger, and was in stock. The BNF Basic was on backorder. Optional floats exist, with a caveat covered below.

Dynam Piper Super Cub 1270mm. A STOL-style Super Cub on Dynam's own store, with flaps, a BM3715-KV890 brushless motor, a 40 A ESC, six metal-gear digital servos and quick-release wings. Dynam lists compatibility with 3S or 4S 2200 mAh 25C packs, and its SRTF-6A package includes a Gavin-6A transmitter, an iStone gyro receiver, a 3S battery and a charger. PNP and BNF versions suit existing radios. Dynam's smaller Super J3 Cub 1100mm and its Cessna 182 Sky Trainer V2 were listed as unavailable.

FMS PA-18 Super Cub 1300mm. With a 51.18 in span, flaps, a two-piece fuselage and a 3536-850Kv motor on 3S, it is described by FMS as having STOL performance and a float option. It weighs 1,450 g and was on backorder at Horizon with the Reflex V3 gyro, at skill level 4. The older FMS J-3 Cub 1400mm and its float versions are discontinued there.

Cessnas

E-flite Carbon-Z Cessna 150T 2.1m. A giant foam Cessna with an 83.66 in (2,125 mm) span, 125 oz (3,539 g) without a battery and a 60 A Smart ESC. It runs on 4S, 5S or 6S 4000 to 7000 mAh packs. Horizon says to use 4S for slow and smooth scale flying, 5S for added power and 6S for far-better-than-scale performance, and describes the airplane's "mild to wild" capabilities. The 150T is a taildragger with tundra tires and a steerable tailwheel. It carries flaps, a telemetry-capable receiver in the BNF Basic and is rated skill level 3. The BNF Basic was in stock, the PNP is discontinued.

Phoenix Model Cessna 182 ARF. A 65.6 in balsa and plywood ARF that takes glow or electric power, with a two-piece bolt-on wing, factory Oracover covering, functioning scale flaps, aluminum main gear and spring wire nose gear. Horizon rates it skill level 4. It was in stock. The covering guide explains how to maintain the film.

FMS Cessna 182 1500mm. A 59.05 in (1,500 mm) PNP authorized by Textron Innovations, with a transparent cockpit and a 2,000 g weight on 4S 2200 to 3200 mAh. Horizon lists skill level 4, and it was on backorder. The older FMS Sky Trainer 182 versions are discontinued.

Giant-scale Cubs

Hangar 9 J-3 Cub 10cc. The giant-scale J-3 comes in two forms. The ARF has an 82.5 in (2,096 mm) span, accepts a .62 four-stroke glow engine, an 11cc gas engine or an electric system, and needs 20+ hours of assembly. The EP PNP version has a 4260-480Kv motor, a 70 A ESC and four metal-gear servos, takes 4S to 6S packs and needs about 4 hours. Horizon's text notes nearly 20,000 J-3 Cubs were produced between 1938 and 1947 and more than 5,000 are still registered. Both were in stock. The gas vs electric guide covers the power choice, and the Hangar 9 guide covers the brand.

E-flite Carbon-Z Cub SS 2.1m. An 84.6 in (2,149 mm) electric Cub weighing 155 oz (4,386 g) without a battery on 4S to 6S. Horizon describes drooped wingtips for slow-speed handling, flaps that travel both ways, thumbscrew wing mounting and larger tundra-style wheels. It is rated skill level 3 and was on backorder.

Bigger still. The Hangar 9 CubCrafters XCub 60cc ARF has a 116 in span, weighs 27 to 31 lb and needs 15 to 20 hours of assembly, and the Carbon Cub FX-3 100-200cc ARF has a 165 in span. Both were on backorder. See the giant-scale guide for the wider category.

Power and battery cheat sheet

Batteries and connectors vary widely across this family, so match the pack to the model before ordering. The LiPo guide explains cell counts and connectors, and the motors guide explains the power systems.

Features worth checking before buying

• Flaps. The Dynam Super Cub and the FMS PA-18 have flaps, the Phoenix Cessna 182 has functioning scale flaps and the Cub SS flaps travel both ways for full-span aileron mixing. Horizon's spec table lists no flaps on the Carbon Cub S 2 1.3m.
• Transport. Several models break down for the car. The FMS PA-18 1300mm has a two-piece wing, horizontal stabilizer and fuselage, the Hangar 9 J-3 Cub has a two-piece wing with slots to hold the wing tube, the Cub SS has thumbscrews for its two-piece wing, and the Dynam Super Cub's wings are quick-release.
• Assembly time. Horizon's printed times range from under an hour for the BNF and RTF foam models to 20+ hours for the J-3 Cub ARF and 15 to 20 hours for the XCub 60cc.
• Upgrades. The Carbon Cub S 2 accepts the optional SAFE Plus and Landing Assist Sensor, which suits a pilot who wants more help with approaches.

Floats

Cubs are natural floatplanes, but Horizon's caution is plain. The HobbyZone float set (23.5 in floats, 150 g) fits the Carbon Cub S 2, and Horizon states "these floats are not recommended for beginners due to the increased challenge of flying off water." E-flite's Carbon-Z Cub SS float set was on backorder. The floatplane guide covers the setup.

What is gone

Horizon lists as discontinued the UMX J-3 Cub and UMX Cessna 182, the Carbon Cub S+ and older Carbon Cub S 2 editions, the E-flite Super Cub 25e and PA-20 Pacer ARFs, the ParkZone Sport Cub, the Hangar 9 Carbon Cub 15cc and Piper J-3 Cub 40, and the FMS J-3 Cub and Sky Trainer 182 lines. For the Arrows Hobby J3 Cub and Dynam J-3 Cub 1245mm that appeared in older lists, no maker page could be confirmed.

Which to choose

• A first airplane. The Sport Cub S 2 for a calm yard, or the Carbon Cub S 2 1.3m as a bigger first step with SAFE.
• A budget start. The Volantex Sport Cub 500 (the VolantexRC guide covers the rest of the lineup), with the caveat that a toy-class gyro model is not a long-term plane.
• A scale Cub with flaps. The Dynam Super Cub 1270mm, or the FMS PA-18 when stock returns.
• A big electric Cessna. The Carbon-Z Cessna 150T.
• A builder. The Hangar 9 J-3 Cub 10cc ARF or the Phoenix Cessna 182.

Frequently asked questions