CF-XVW is a 1939 Piper J3 Cub, serial number 3346. It originally came from the factory as a J3F50, meaning it had a 50 h.p. Franklin engine, but somewhere along the line the Franklin was replaced (actually a couple of times I think) and it now has a C85-8 and a metal prop. I do not have the original logs and don't know much about it's early years. I sure would like to though because, as a pre-war Cub, I'm guessing there are a few interesting untold stories.
My logs start in early 1970, thirty-six years ago, but a full thirty-one years after XVW was "born". Since 1970 it has bounced around a few owners but has always been located in the southeast Prairies. I purchased it from Leo Menard at Lyncrest in the fall of 2002. He completed a ground up restoration in 1994 and the airplane flew about 30 hours between then and when I bought it.
I also have a 1964 Cessna 172E and previously owned a number of aircraft, including an Aeronca L3, and obtained my float endorsement in a Piper Super Cub. But, the J3 has been the apple of my eye since way back in the early 60's when my father flew Cubs on floats at the Halifax Flying Club. I had lots of J3 float time by the time I turned 10 and I knew that one day I would be a pilot as well. As a kid, when I dreamed of flying it was always in a bright yellow Cub on floats. My thanks to Leo for letting me have her; CF-XVW has more than lived up to my expectations. Equipped with wheels, skis, and Edo 1320 floats it's the airplane that I (and many others) have always wanted. I fly it now on wheels and skis and the floats are in the hangar awaiting the day, not too many years down the road, when the plane will be based at our retirement home in Porters Lake, Nova Scotia and I will finally achieve a life long ambition of flying from home.
In the meantime, CF-XVW gives me more pleasure than I have a right to and I am thankful for every opportunity I have to fly it.
Jack Neima
October 2006