09 JUNE 2016www.flightglobal.com
CubCrafters secures US certification for XCub, a lightweight sports aircraft
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Light aircraft developer CubCrafters has secured US certification for its flagship piston-single, the XCub, following a six-year, clandestine development effort, and says it will deliver the first aircraft on 5 July.
The carbon-fibre XCub is a US Federal Aviation Regulation Part 23 version of the nine-year-old Carbon Cub SS light sport aircraft; itself an updated variant of the out-of-production Piper Cub.
"We have kept XCub development a secret from the start. We only wanted to publicise the programme once we had secured type certification," says John Whitish, director of global marketing for the Yakima, Washington-based company.
The final product is a "lighter, faster and stronger aircraft than anything in its category," adds CubCrafters founder and chief executive Jim Richmond. "It fulfils a much wider mission profile compared to any other aircraft in this class,” he adds. These include the Aviat Husky and American Champion High Country Explorer.
The XCub features an aluminium spring landing gear, "which adds around 12kt to the cruise speed", and composite fairings on the attach points of the landing gear and struts, which reduces the aircraft’s weight. CubCrafters also developed new flight controls and a new empennage for the XCub, “and the finished aircraft features a distinctive and stylish composite dorsal fin [to improve stability]”, it says.
Other new features of the $298,000 aircraft include redesigned ailerons and flaps – to improve handling – enhanced cockpit ergonomics and “extensive use of ultra-lightweight carbon composites, titanium and aluminium throughout”.
The XCub will also be available in a seaplane configuration, equipped with Wipaire-designed floats.
"We are now seeking European certification for the aircraft, but a timeframe for validation has not been determined," says Whitish.
The carbon-fibre XCub is a US Federal Aviation Regulation Part 23 version of the nine-year-old Carbon Cub SS light sport aircraft; itself an updated variant of the out-of-production Piper Cub.
"We have kept XCub development a secret from the start. We only wanted to publicise the programme once we had secured type certification," says John Whitish, director of global marketing for the Yakima, Washington-based company.
The final product is a "lighter, faster and stronger aircraft than anything in its category," adds CubCrafters founder and chief executive Jim Richmond. "It fulfils a much wider mission profile compared to any other aircraft in this class,” he adds. These include the Aviat Husky and American Champion High Country Explorer.
The XCub features an aluminium spring landing gear, "which adds around 12kt to the cruise speed", and composite fairings on the attach points of the landing gear and struts, which reduces the aircraft’s weight. CubCrafters also developed new flight controls and a new empennage for the XCub, “and the finished aircraft features a distinctive and stylish composite dorsal fin [to improve stability]”, it says.
Other new features of the $298,000 aircraft include redesigned ailerons and flaps – to improve handling – enhanced cockpit ergonomics and “extensive use of ultra-lightweight carbon composites, titanium and aluminium throughout”.
The XCub will also be available in a seaplane configuration, equipped with Wipaire-designed floats.
"We are now seeking European certification for the aircraft, but a timeframe for validation has not been determined," says Whitish.
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