Piper Cub Airplane Creates a New Home for Jordan Winery Redwood Water Tank

An avid pilot since age 17, John Jordan tells the story of how his decision to purchase a J-3 Piper Cub last summer led to an ambitious building project and new aerial farming tool for our vineyard team.

John is a former Naval officer and history buff who enjoys a dry martini and a fine cigar from time to time; he’s always been intrigued by this small aircraft, which is considered an integral part of World War II history. The first J-3 Piper Cub aircraft was introduced in the 1930s and is named after its inventor, Mr. Piper. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt posed for a series of publicity photos with a Piper Cub to help promote the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Now one of these symbols of aviation history will soon have a permanent home on Jordan Estate.

And the Cub is making a comeback. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association just announced that Piper is debuting a new Cub, the Super Legend, in early 2012.

If you’d like to hear about pilot David Carmack’s cross-country journey to bring the Cub from North Carolina to California last summer, let us know. We captured his stories on video.