FMS 1300mm PA-18 Super Cub Review: Is the Reflex V3 Bush Plane Worth It?

The FMS 1300mm PA-18 Super Cub is worth buying if you already have one trainer under your belt and want a scale bush plane with real STOL performance. It is not the safest first airplane, despite FMS marketing it as beginner-friendly. Below is what the spec sheet does not tell you.

Quick Verdict

• Rating: 4/5 — outstanding hardware, but a demanding stall character
• Best for: pilots who have already soloed a basic trainer and want a taildragger
• Not for: absolute first-time RC pilots with zero flight time
• Price: $199.99 USD (PNP version, per FMS Hobby's official listing)
• Get it here: Check current price and availability at FMS Hobby

What Is the FMS 1300mm PA-18 Super Cub?

The PA-18 Super Cub is FMS's scaled-down version of its larger 1700mm platform, built to replicate the real-world Piper PA-18. The full-size aircraft flew for close to 40 years, with over 9,000 units built for bush flying, banner towing, and glider towing.

FMS shrank the airframe so it packs down like carry-on luggage. The fuselage splits into two sections, the wing and horizontal stabilizer are two-piece, and the whole plane goes together with just a few screws. It ships in three configurations:

• PNP (Plug-and-Play) — motor, ESC, and servos preinstalled; you supply the radio, receiver, battery, and charger
• RTF (Ready to Fly) — everything included, transmitter and battery in the box
• With Floats — same airframe on floats for water operations (currently pre-order, shipping in August)

Key Specs

What We Like

Genuine STOL performance. The 3536-850KV motor swings the 11x7 prop with enough thrust that, combined with the functional slotted flaps, the plane breaks ground in under three meters — matching FMS's claim, not just marketing copy.

CNC metal landing gear that actually absorbs impact. Unlike the wire gear on most trainers in this size class, the articulating metal struts flex on rough touchdowns instead of transferring the shock straight into the foam fuselage.

Oversized pneumatic tires for real terrain. The 120mm rubber tires are built for grass, gravel, and dirt strips — not just smooth runways.

Reflex V3 stabilization with app tuning. The flight controller connects via Bluetooth, letting pilots adjust PID gains from a phone instead of guessing at trim.

Two-section fuselage that actually packs small. The plane splits down small enough for a car trunk, which most 1300mm-class models can't match.

Worth Knowing

This is the part most product pages skip, but pilots who have flown it report it consistently.

The tip-stall behavior is the biggest safety factor to understand. At roughly 48g/dm² wing loading, the airframe is on the heavier end for a 1.3-meter foam model. Flown too slowly in a banked turn, one wing can stall before the other, snapping the plane into a sharp, low-altitude dive. This is why FMS's own "Beginner" label on the box is misleading — it is safer treated as a second aircraft.

Assembly is not the 10-minute job advertised. Joining the two fuselage sections is tight enough that it often takes two people, and the stock Phillips screws are soft enough to strip before the joint fully seats. Many owners swap in hex-head hardware before the first build.

Factory battery limits flight time. On the recommended 3S 2200mAh 25C pack, expect closer to 5 minutes in aggressive flying. Independent reviewers report 10-12 minutes of mixed cruising once upgraded to a higher-discharge pack — this is a real upgrade to budget for, not a nice-to-have.

Reflex V3 setup can start reversed. Some units ship with the gyro correction axes flipped in the app on first sync. Confirm nose-down input produces up-elevator correction before your first takeoff.

Landing gear mounts can sit proud from the factory. A small gap between the metal strut anchor and the fuselage is a known weak point on hard, unpowered landings. Flown with power through the flare, as intended, this isn't an issue.

PNP vs. RTF vs. Floats — Which Version to Buy

Choose PNP if you already have a compatible transmitter, receiver, battery, and charger from another plane — it's the cheaper way in.

Choose RTF if this is your first taildragger and you don't yet own radio gear; everything you need is in the box.

Add floats if you fly near open water and want the authentic bush-plane experience the PA-18 is modeled after. Floats currently ship starting in August, though the airframe itself ships immediately.

Who Should Buy It

You've already flown a basic trainer, understand rudder coordination, and want a taildragger with real scale presence for grass strips, parks, or bumpy fields where wire landing gear would fail.

Who Should Not Buy It

You have zero stick time. The combination of tip-stall sensitivity and a taildragger's ground-handling demands makes this a rough first airplane, regardless of the beginner label on the box. Start with a lighter tricycle-gear trainer first.

FAQ

Is the FMS 1300mm PA-18 good for beginners? Not as a first plane. It's best as a second aircraft once you've mastered basic trainer flying and rudder coordination.

How long does the battery last? On the stock 3S 2200mAh battery, expect around 5 minutes of flight in aggressive use. An upgraded high-discharge battery can stretch that to 10-12 minutes of cruising.

What's the difference between PNP and RTF? PNP includes the motor, ESC, and servos only — you supply the transmitter, receiver, battery, and charger. RTF includes everything needed to fly out of the box.

Can it take off from grass or dirt? Yes. The oversized pneumatic tires and CNC metal landing gear are built for rough-field operation, and the flaps give it genuine short-takeoff capability.

Does it come with floats? Floats are available as an optional add-on and are currently on pre-order, shipping in August.

Final Verdict

The FMS 1300mm PA-18 Super Cub delivers real STOL performance, premium landing gear, and scale presence that's hard to find at this price. The tradeoff is a stall character that punishes slow, banked turns — so it rewards pilots who already have some stick time far more than absolute newcomers.

Check current price and buy the FMS 1300mm PA-18 Super Cub here

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