The Piper Cub Association of South Africa
doing it... slowly
Advert in LIFE Magazine 17 January 1938
The Piper Cub in South Africa
Type c/n Reg History
Piper J3C-65 3705 ZU-CWS Built 1939. Ex ZS-MGD. Registered 15 May 2003. Owner Tigertrap Properties (PTY) LTD
Piper J3F-60 4386 ZS-NAM Built 1940. Registered 17 April 1991. Owner Boschrand Plant CC. Has a Franklin 4AC-176 engine. New owner G J Nagel (Information as at 25 May 2014). Update January 2025 from Hendré Delport  Purchased by by Hennie & Hendré Delport - father and son - on the 1st of September 2024. Previous owner was Dale De Klerk in Krugersdorp. ZS-NAM now resides at Rand Airport Germiston. We once again Refurbished her to original specifications of 1940. We started mid-September to December 2024. From the engine paint scheme to the livery that she was originally assigned out of the Lockhaven factory on the 3rd May 1940. A lot of research was done for the attention to detail. Its original altimeter that’s now 84 years old has been restored to working condition and has been installed into the cubby where she once was. Even the cubby logo has been changed to the correct one assigned on the day of manufacture. We are very proud of our little cubby and it’s been a great privilege to restore her to her former glory.
Piper J3C-65 6241 ZS-LWK Built 1941. Registered 20 April 1988. Owner CF de Klerk
Piper J3C-65 8125 ZU-ACN Built 1941. Registered 5 October 1992. Owner ACN Partnership
Piper J3C-65 10022 ZU-FLD ZU-FLD. Built 1942 for US Army. Served with US 70th Infantry Division in WWII. Demobbed Feb 1945. Refurbished 2008 and imported to Cape Town in Jan 2011. Has C85 motor. Owned by Ross Leighton ZU-FLD is a genuine L-4 Grasshopper. Based at Morningstar Airfield, Cape Town. Update 2012 Purchased by Roy Gregson in 2012 and ferried it from Morningstar to Panorama Airfield, south of Johannesburg. Roy wrote... " It took us 16 hours & 3 days to get here but what an adventure. It is an absolute pleasure to fly & own such a beautiful aircraft."
Piper J3C-65 10721 ZS-ZOE Hopwood J W. Built 1943. Registered: 2006/03/27. Update from James Hopwood 15 August 2014. I own ZS-ZOE, which is based in Ladysmith in KZN. I imported her in 2003 and she was rebuilt by Boet Voges in Richards Bay. The last airplane he refurbished before he retired, and what a fantastic job he did, like it came off the Lockhaven floor. I fitted a brand new 0-200, starter and alternator, and a radio. I registered her ZOE after my daughter Zoe who is now 15 and shows an interest in learning to fly. We have had much fun with her. Update August 2019  Larry van der Merwe recently purchased James Hopwood’s share in ZS-ZOE. She now belongs to the “Richmond and Van Der Merwe Partnership”. She is still based out of Ladysmith. Another update on her is she is in fact a 1943 model J3C65 (as per data plate) with a 100 hp 0-200 conversion.
Piper J3C-65 13663 ZU-BLG Note: Conflict of data.
13663 ZU-BLG Built 1946. Registered 24 June 1991. Owned by Fabrizio Onofri since the late 2000. Although it looks like a J3 its actually an L4 which served in the USAF.
Its based at Morningstar in the Western Cape.

13663 ZS-NBV Built 1945. Registered 24 June 1991. Owned by CT Hill.
Piper J3C-65 14304 ZS-NFP Built 1946. Owned by P Vermeulen, Bredell. Registered 22 April 1992. Update 2025/03/09 by Gabriel le Roux. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZS-NFP has the construction number 14304, which was one of 78 units produced in 1945 (in the construction number range 14291 to 14368). The aeroplane was previously registered N42077 (damaged in an accident on 14 January 1984). A certificate was issued on 23 December 1991 to Boca Helicopter Service Inc of Pompano Beach, Florida in the United States for N42077 and the certificate was cancelled on 21 April 1992 as exported to South Africa. In South Africa the aircraft was involved in an accident on 2 April 2000.
Piper J3C-65 14920 ZS-PEP Built 1956? Registered 11 December 2003 to Carrier Landings Partnership. Update 2025/03/09 by Gabriel le Roux. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZS-PEP has the construction number 14920, which was one of 3599 units produced in 1946 [in the construction number range 14369 to 17967(1)]. The airplane was previously N42629 (possibly registered as early as 16 December 1955; certificate issued 28 October 2003 to Jeffrey L Sharman of Vacaville, California in the United States and cancelled 10 December 2003 as exported to South Africa).
Piper J3C-65 15524 ZU-PJN Built 1946. Registered 14 March 2005.  Owner Skylite Trading 7 CC.
Piper J3C-65 15722 ZS-AVG Built 1946 Registered 30 March 1946. Owner HJ Pienaar
Piper J3C-65 15738 ZS-WDT Built 1945? Registered 25 November 1988. Owner DW Painter. Update 2 May 2012, by Ray Watts - This Cub started out life here in SA as ZS-AVF (registered in Feb 1946) and became ZS-BTB in June 1947. In 1988 she was re-registered ZS-WDT and is owned by a Mr DW Painter who lives in the Adelaide area of the Eastern Cape. At some stage she was converted to a tricycle undercarriage.
Piper J3C-65 16076 ZS-UUP Built 1945? Registered 7 March 1974. Owner D Snyders and Associates
Piper J3C-65 16228 ZS-AUU Built 1946. Registered 15 May 1946. Owner Cub Aviation (Pty) Ltd
Piper J3C-65 16529 ZS-AWJ Built 1946. Registered 20 May 1970. Owner Radcool Investments (Pty) Ltd
Piper J3C-65 16530 ZS-AWD Built 1946. Owner Fischer en seuns (Fischer and sons) dates unknown. New owner Louis Alwyn de Wet 8/12/2014 and based at Fly Inn Estate -25.970777,28.350388
Piper J3C-65 16548 ZS-AUY Built 1958? Registered 20 May 1946. Owner J365 Partnership
Piper J3C-65 16567 ZS-AWE Built 1946. Registered 14 April 1988. Owner Chemline CC. Update 2025/03/09 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZS-AWE has the construction number 16567, which was one of 3599 units produced in 1946 [in the construction number range 14369 to 17967(1)] and was originally registered in June 1946.  According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1975 the aircraft was at one stage owned by JJ Maree of the Cape. According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1981 the aircraft was at one stage owned by S Levin of Rustenburg (Scully Levin?). According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1988 the aircraft was at one stage owned by W Gale and Partner of Rand.
Piper J3C-65 16763 ZU-AJT
Piper J3C-65 16802 ZS-PCX Built 1946. Registered 25 September 2003. Dusorea Investment Holdings
Piper J3C-65 17069 ZS-VZE Built 1945? Registered 7 April 1988. Owner NJ Austin and EW Buchel
Piper J3C-65 17326 ZU-EJM Built 1946. Registered 24 February 1971. Owner GK Dell. ex ZS-DTA. Update 13 September 2019. Purchased by Stuart Low and based at Virginia Airport in Durban. Update 2025/03/10 from Gabrile le Roux .Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZU-EJM has the construction number 17326, which was one of 3599 units produced in 1946 [in the construction number range 14369 to 17967(1)]. The aircraft was previously registered ZS-BCG and ZS-DTA. ZS-BCG was originally registered in July 1946. ZS-DTA was registered in October 1963 and was at one time owned by CR Poynton of Empangeni Rail and at another time by CN Ducasse and Partner of Stanger and at yet another time by the Cub Syndicate of Syferfontein. Acknowledgements: Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1975, Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1981 and Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1988.
Piper J3C-65 17400 ZS-AYT Built 1946. Registered 11 August 1970. Owner CP van der Merwe.
Update 17 April 2022. I am the son-in-law of Boet Voges, he has asked me to send you some more and new info on ZS-AYT. The aircraft was in an accident and CP van der Merwe decided that it was not worth restoring and just stored the aircraft on his farm. He has since passed away and Boet Voges bought the damaged aircraft from the family trust of van der Merwe. The aircraft has since then been slowly restored and it is very near to completion. ZS-AYT was registered in (Boet) EN Voges's on 06/07/2018. Regards Troy Martins. Update from Gabriel le Roux 7 March 2025. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZS-AYT was one of 3599 units [in the construction number range 14369 to 17967(1)] produced in 1946 and was originally registered in July 1946. It was damaged in an accident at Mkuze on 14 July 1979. It appears that ZS-AYT was at some time operated on the Pretoria Flying Club’s Non-scheduled Air Transport Service licence number 324 dated 25 October 1965 – Government Gazette number 1240 dated 1 October 1965.
Piper J3C-65 17651 ZU-FHJ Built 1963? Registered 22 June 2010. Owner JJ Guimaraens & SJ Osterberger. Update 2025/03/10 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZU-FHJ has the construction number 17651, which was one of 3599 units produced in 1946 [in the construction number range 14369 to 17967(1)]. Previously the airplane was registered as follow: VP-YFH (registered 9 July 1946 to IJR Forbes; registered 1 July 1951 to Air Carriers Ltd; registered 1 April 1953 to Belvedere Flying Club; registration cancelled 1 April 1954, became CR-AEC) and CR-AEC (the letters CR-A.. were used by Mozambique before C9-… was allocated; the aeroplane later became C9-AEC; owned by the Nampula Aero Club).
Piper J3C-65 17653 ZS-AYC Built 1946. Registered 12 January 1971. owner G Langeveld
Piper J3C-65 17882 ZS-BCV Built 1946. Registered 16 July 1976. Owner RG Williams
Piper J3C-65 17949 ZS-AWK Built 1946. Registered 14 March 2008. Owner Yankee Zulu Air CC
Piper J3C-65 18584 ZS-AZM Built 1946. Registered 16 March 1972. Owner IEM Janse Van Vuuren. Update 2025/03/10 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper J-3C-65 Cub registration number ZS-AZM has the construction number 18584, which was one of 1831 units produced in 1946 [in the construction number range 17967(2) to 19796(1)] and was originally registered in August 1946. According to Air-Britain 1975 the aircraft was at some time registered to TCH Pieterse of Bultfontein. According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1981 the aircraft was at one stage owned by CG Reitz and Partners. According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1988 the aircraft was at one stage owned by LG Janse van Vuuren of Wonderboom.

NOTE: construction numbers 17967(1) and 19796(1) were written off before delivery.
Piper J3C-65 18585 ZS-AZK Only known information is that the aircraft was owned by Johan Hagen's father.
Piper J3C-65 18899 ZU-AYK Built 1946. Registered 18 April 1996. Owner BJ Wallace
Piper J3C-65 19610 ZS-MZY Corpclo 904 cc
Piper J3C-65 20101 ZS-AXZ Built 1946. Registered 21 May 1975. AD van Malsen & JH de Jager Partnership T/A Flying Eye Partnership
Piper J3C-65 20117 ZS-BID Built 1946. Registered 18 May 1972. Owner PC Wille
Piper J3C-65 20267 ZS-MXT Built 1946. Owner Leon Bornam
Piper J3C-65 20952 ZS-PHU Built 1946. Registered 12 May 2004. Owner GA Mc Alpine
Piper J3C-65 21050 ZS-BJA Built 1945? Registered 9 December 1976. Owner A Swanepoel T/A Antique Aviation
Piper J3C-65 21079 ZS-BNP Built 1948. Registered 22 May 1992. Owner Hobart Aerobatics CC
Piper J3C-65 22191 ZU-BPW Registered 24 August 1993. Based in East London and is owned by Flightime CC, a partnership of 4. (Information correct as at 23 January 2012)
Piper J3C-65 3-18564 ZS-HKR Built 1946. Registered 28 March 1973. Owner AP Burger
Piper PA-11 18433 ZS-VTT CN 18433 ex C9-ADO CR-ADO ZS-AZH. The aircraft is based at Baragwanath (FASY). It was imported in derelict state from Mozambique by Brian Zeedeberg and Ian Popplewell and is still owned by them both (As at 2012/09/10). Update 2 September 2019. Purchased on 30 June 2019, from Ian and Brian, by Steve Van Der Merwe who wrote… “It’s new home is here at Fly Inn Estate where I live. The Cub sleeps in the house with me! We now have a total of 6 Cubs here at Fly Inn Airpark: ZS-AWD, ZS-MEN, ZS-MXT, ZS-VTT, ZU-BPW, ZU-FAZ”.
Piper PA-12 12-1025 ZS-BIO
Piper PA-18 18-09024 ZS-MIE Levin S. Update from Gabriel le Roux 2025/03/10 Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-MIE has the construction number 1809024, which was one of 49 units produced at Vero Beach in 1989. The aircraft later had the registrations N180FF and N98RK (certificate issued 11 October 2023 to Robert W Keith of Austin, Travis in the United States).
Piper PA-18 18-09025 ZS-MHZ Aeroil (Pty) Ltd
Piper PA-18 18-1312 ZS-DGI Owned by Dave A. Hartmann. Based at Wings Park, East London. Information correct as at 2013/04/08
Piper PA-18 18-1668 ZS-PFZ
Piper PA-18 18-1789 ZS-NEA Koornhof PP. Aircraft purchased from PP Koornhof by Danie Minnaar in December 2016.
Piper PA-18 18-191 ZS-DEH TW en CM Beckett Beleggings cc
Piper PA-18 18-2191 ZS-DHH Krull E V. Update 2025/03/10 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-DHH has the construction number 18-2191, which was one of 1043 units of various models produced in 1953. However, note that Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1975, Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1981 and Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa – 1988 give the registration date of the aircraft as July 1952 (it is possible, though, that the registration was reserved beforehand). The owner of the aeroplane is given as the Eastern Province Sailplane Club in all three publications.
Piper PA-18 18-2192 ZS-DHI Unison Rentals cc. Used for advertising banner towing by Sky Messaging
Piper PA-18 18-3289 ZS-DJR Heard R J
Piper PA-18 18-3310 ZS-EGI Update 12 November 2014. ZS-EGI is owned and operated by Magalies Gliding Club out of Orient Airfield, FAOI. It is used as a glider tow plane. It is one of the few 180hp Super Cubs.
Piper PA-18 18-3660 ZS-BCC In Excess Trading 134 (Pty) Ltd
Piper PA-18 18-4150 ZS-DLI Dutton T P
Piper PA-18 18-4285 ZS-LHL Makinson R P
Piper PA-18 18-4302 ZS-DLR de Wet T H
Piper PA-18 18-4994 ZS-CDR van Wyk T W. Damaged beyond repair in a fatal crash, killing Leo Bonhiem and his son. Parts used to rebuild ZU-ASI.
Piper PA-18 18-5239 ZS-MIY Pistorius J I F
Piper PA-18 18-5248 ZS-IOU Ex, 9J-ROU, VP-ROU, VP-YOU. Spraying insecticide for The International Red Locust Control Service (later known as The International Red Locust Control organisation) from 1954. Owners, Schroenn M L; Roach B P; McAuley M J; Dr. Frank Bonfils-Persson. Update 11 September 2013 from Dr. Frank Bonfils-Persson - Frank owns 3/4 and Mark Schroenn 1/4.
Piper PA-18 18-5250 ZS-CFT L A Hill Dealers cc
Piper PA-18 18-5327 ZS-JEC Meyer B R
Piper PA-18 18-5869 ZU-AFX Update from Eugene du Plessis 1 July 2025. Previous registration: ZS-CGI. It was born as a PA18A agricultural, modified to a 2-seater somewhere in the 1990’s and shortly after registered into ZU category. It sat in a hangar at Kitty Hawk for 17 years. Purchased by Eugene in 2024.
Piper PA-18 18-5885 ZS-CHS Stocks D J & Wiley R A J
Piper PA-18 18-6128 ZS-CIA Pepper S M
Piper PA-18 18-6317 ZS-CJK Fischer A En Seuns
Piper PA-18 18-6481 ZS-PLV Snaproll cc. Ex Z-WIU (Zimbabwe)
Piper PA-18 18-6615 ZS-JVX
Piper PA-18 18-6711 ZS-CKP Bennet S A
Piper PA-18 18-6719 ZS-CKU Twyford C J
Piper PA-18 18-6759 ZS-MIX Doitch D
Piper PA-18 18-6979 ZS-CLU Treherne Pollock A B. Damaged beyond repair in a fatal crash, killing Jenny Hooper. Parts used to rebuild ZU-ASI.
Piper PA-18 18-7058 ZS-PGA Lunsklip Visserye (Pty) Ltd.
Unison Rentals cc. Used for advertising banner towing by Sky Messaging
Piper PA-18 18-7207 ZS-MOP Burki W. E-mail received from Frank van Heerden 27 July 2020 stating he is the new owner.
Piper PA-18 18-7337 ZS-MIW Aerocon cc
Piper PA-18 18-7361 ZS-MIV PA18, 180HP Piper Super Cub. Used at Cape Gliding Club at FAWC Worcester Glider Airport for glider tugging Operations. Ex Israeli Air Force. The club has owned it since the early 1990s. Update from Gabriel le Roux 2025/03/10 Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-MIV has the construction number 18-7361, which was one of 350 units produced in 1960. The aeroplane was previously serial number 078 in the Israel Air Force and after that 4X-AJJ on the Israel civil register (the machine was used as an initial training aircraft at the Hatzerim Flight School). After the aeroplane was retired from the Israel Air Force, it was sold as surplus to Dror, where it received the registration letters 4X-AJJ. After Dror went bankrupt, the plane became the property of Israel Yitzhaki. Subsequently, the aircraft went to South Africa, where it was registered ZS-MIV on 27 June 1989.
Piper PA-18 18-7409033 ZS-OXX Comanche Aircraft (Pty) Ltd
Piper PA-18 18-7409147 ZS-JGF Bouwer G J
Piper PA-18 18-7509056 ZS-POC Aeronexus Corporate (Pty) Ltd
Piper PA-18 18-7609023 ZS-LTN Truter P R.
Unison Rentals cc. Used for advertising banner towing by Sky Messaging
Piper PA-18 18-7709175 ZS-MIU Aerocon cc
Piper PA-18 18-7753 ZS-LSA Smith M H. Update 2025/03/10 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-LSA has the construction number 18-7753, which was one of 125 units produced in 1962. The aeroplane was previously 4X-AJL (registered under the name of Ira Curtiss Airlines) and was previously operated by the Israeli Defence Force/Air Force. See https://sky-high.co.il/2021/01/23/%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%A8-4x-ajl/
The aircraft was registered on 17 June 1985 to the Government of the Republic of Ciskei. The plane was registered in the name of Hansen Malan Investments CC on 21 February 2000. The aircraft was registered in the name of GE Backhouse on 17 August 2005. SACAA gives the ownership date as 22 May 2015 for MH Smith. According to information provided on Avcom in July 2022 the aircraft belonged to Mike Smith and lived in Knysna.
Piper PA-18 18-7809050 ZS-SKV Update from Gabriel 2025/03/07 Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-SKV is/was owned by Stacey KV (Keith Stacey). The Super Cub has the construction number 18-7809050 (one of 188 units produced in 1978) and was previously N530RR (certificate issued 22 January 1997 to Raymond E Records of Las Vegas, Nevada and cancelled 13 November 2007 as exported to South Africa).
Piper PA-18 18-7866 ZS-CYO Witwatersrand Gliding Trust
Piper PA-18 18-7909149 ZS-MYW Sayers T M
Piper PA-18 18-8012 ZU-ASI ex ZS-LEV. ZS-LEV was damaged beyond economical repair in 1991 following an in-flight separation of most of one propeller blade, forced landing and subsequent fire (Pilot J Colburn). Rebuilt between 1992-2012 as ZU-ASI, using some parts from ZS-CLU and ZS-CDR. Owned by Supercub Partnership (Ian and Alan Hanes) and based at Baragwanath. First flight was 24 May 2012 by test pilot and co-owner Ian Hanes.
Piper PA-18 18-8027 ZS-DSH Departement Landbou & Natuur. Update 2025/03/07 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-DSH was one of 173 units produced in 1963 and was originally registered in December 1963. According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa - 1975 the aircraft was at some time registered to the SWA Administration. According to Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa - 1988 the aircraft was at some time registered to the Department of Transport at Windhoek-Eros.

According to a post by the late Ray Watts on Avcom the aircraft was registered on 21 November 1963 and the aircraft later became V5-DSH.
Piper PA-18 18-8036 ZS-FZK Wiley R A J & Stock D J
Piper PA-18 18-8065 ZS-PPW De Bonis R A. Update 2025/02/25 from Gabriel le Roux. Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub registration number ZS-PPW has the construction number 18-8065 (one of 155 units produced in 1964). According to research I have done the aircraft has the following identity record before becoming ZS-PPW: VP-KTO (first registered November 1963; registered in 1964 to Kenya National Parks, Nairobi). Then the aeroplane was reregistered 5Y-KTO in March or May 1965. The airplane became 7Q-YCF in July 1972 (at one stage operated by the Malawi Government – the Department of National Parks and Wildlife). NOTE: “VP-K” was the prefix for Kenya under the original British Colonial Register before the prefix “5Y” was allocated to the country. Acknowledgement: Air-Britain Civil Aircraft Registers of Africa - 1981 and Piper Aircraft and Air-Britain https://www.ab-ix.co.uk ? pdfs ? vp-kaa_&_5y-aaa PDF
Piper PA-18 18-8109066 ZS-LCE Von Wallenberg Baum K W E K
Piper PA-18 18-8206 ZS-EEW Unison Rentals cc. Used for advertising banner towing by Sky Messaging
Piper PA-18 18-8589 ZS-WSB
Many Piper Cubs have appeared on the South African register, either ZS- or ZU-. The list below is by no means complete and will be updated as and when information comes along.

Contributions, corrections and photographs will be most welcome; please send via e-mail to John Austin-Williams
john@austinwilliams.co.za

Click on the c/n for photographs where available.