Performance

Original Sales Price:   $1325                  
Engine:                 Continental A-40 (37 hp)
Gross Weight:           925 lb   
Emp Weight:             532 lb   
Useful Load:            393 lb                 
Gross Weight (ATC 455): 970 lb   
Emp Weight   (ATC 455): 556 lb
Useful Load  (ATC 455): 414 lb                 
Fuel Qty:               9 gal (54 lb)          
Oil:                    1 gal (7 lb)               
Fuel Consumption:       2.8 gph                
Datum:                  Rear of Wing LE (aft positive)
CG Limits:              +16 to +20.5 in

Max Speed:              80 mph                 
Cruise Speed:           68 mph                  
Stall Speed:            28 mph                 
Best Climb:             450 fpm                
Ceiling:                12000 ft               
Range:                  180 sm                 
Take off (ground run):  120 ft                 
Landing (ground roll):  95 ft                  

Wing Area:              183 ft^2               
Wing Span:              35 ft                  
Chord:                  5 ft 3 in              
Airfoil:                USA 35B                
Incidence at Root:      2.5 deg                
Incidence at Tip:       0 deg                  
Diehedral at Front Spar: 3/4 deg               
Diehedral at Rear Spar: 1 deg                  
Horiz Stab Area:        24.2 ft^2              
Aileron Area:           9.77 ft^2              
Rudder Area:            7 ft^2                 
Fin Area:               3 ft^2                 

History

The Prototype (s/n 11) was powered by a 20 hp Brownbach Tiger Kitten and was first flown on September 12, 1930. The E2 barely managed to leave the ground with the tiger kitten, however the engine left a legacy in that it prompted one of C.G. Taylor's colleagues to remark that since the engine was called the Tiger Kitten the E2 should be called the cub. The engine was deemed too weak and a 40 hp french salmson was tried and deemed too expensive. Ultimately the decision was made to try a brand new and untried 40 hp engine from continental. That engine was an air cooled flat four cylinder designated the A-40. An uncertified A-40 was fitted to s/n 12 which was completed on april 9, 1931. The engine had a number of teething problems and Taylor has been quoted as saying that in the first 30 days of flying with the A-40 the E2 had to make 26 forced landings. It was also discovered that the crankshaft's tended to break at around 100 hours.

Continental eventually worked the bugs out and the A-40 received it's certification on May 15, 1931 which cleared the way for the E2 aircraft certification on June 15, 1931. The E2 was originaly certified under group 2, no 2-358 which covered the first 14 aircraft. The remaining aircraft were certified under ATC A455 which was issued on november 7, 1931 (covering s/n 26 and up.) The aircraft originaly sold for $1325 and no options were offered. The fuel tank was moved from the wing as shown on s/n 12 to the fuselage where it was located between the panel and the firewall starting with s/n 13. A fully enclosed cockpit was introduced on february 9, 1932 and became standard starting with s/n 35 and up.

In the midst of the depression Continental announced that they were getting out of the aircraft engine business (a decision they later changed.) As a result the Aeromarine AR3-40 (40 hp) was installed starting with s/n 75 (3 jan 34). This new configuration was designated the F2 cub. The Aeromarine was not satisfactory and several further engines were tried (models G2 with a Taylor designed T-40 and the H2 with a 35 hp Szekely SR-3-35.) Eventually Continental updated to the A-40-3 and this engine was used for s/n 178 and up.

The E2 was produced until 1936 when production was ceased in favor of the J2. In 1937 a fire destroyed the plant, prompting the company to relocate to a defunct textile mill in a town called Lock Haven. In November of 1937, the relocated company changed it's name and became the Piper Aircraft Corporation.

Production Summary

Year  Model          Qty        S/N Range      Note
1931  E-2 Prototype  1          11                 
1931  E-2            21         12 to 32           
1932  E-2            22         33 to 54       *   
1933  E-2            18         55 to 72           
1934  E-2            1          73                 
1934  F-2 Prototype  1          74                 
1934  E-2 & F-2      64         75 to 139      *   
1934  H-2 Prototype  1          140                
1934  E-2            8          141 to 148         
1935  G-2            0          149            *   
1935  E-2 & H-2      206        150 to 358     *   
1936  E-2            5          359 to 380     *   

Total Production: 348