Carbon Cub Builder Assist program launches

YAKIMA, Wash. — Backcountry aircraft manufacturer CubCrafters has launched a new builders assist program for the Carbon Cub.

The Carbon Cub FX Builder Assist immerses new owners in the construction of the aluminum, steel and composite parts that make up the Carbon Cub, allowing the customer to know their aircraft in the way only an aircraft builder can, company officials noted.

FX builders’ efforts are rewarded with a new Carbon Cub certified as Experimental-Amateur Built (E-AB), affording operational latitude to the builder/owner that is unavailable for other aircraft certifications, notably increased payload potential, night and/or IFR operation, builder maintenance and the ability to modify the aircraft.

“Carbon Cub FX turns the familiar ‘builder assist’ convention upside down,” says Jim Richmond, founder and CEO of CubCrafters. “Instead of assisting your assembly of parts from a kit, CubCrafters’ technicians facilitate your fabrication of the parts themselves.”

Using the company’s facilities and equipment, CubCrafters employees will “guide you through the fabrication process in an astonishingly short time,” he said, explaining, “then, CubCrafters will use your parts to assemble a factory-perfect Carbon Cub, complete with all the options that you choose.”

This new program satisfies the FAA Major Portion Rule (or 51% rule), he added. The builder completes more than half of the aircraft construction described in the Amateur-Built Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly Checklist (FAA Advisory Circular 20-27G, Appendix 8).

No technical experience is necessary, according to Richmond.

“Our factory personnel will guide you through each process to ensure that your parts are in-spec and meet our quality standards,” he said.

THE AIRCRAFT

The Carbon Cub FX is an extension of CubCrafters’ Carbon Cub EX-2 kit, which delivers the same performance as the ready-to-fly Carbon Cub, but may be certified up to 1,865 pounds gross weight, allowing a usable load over 900 lbs.

For the Builder Assist program, the Carbon Cub FX is equipped with a 180-hp CC340 engine, Long-Range Fuel Tanks, Extended Baggage, and 3×3 Extended HD Landing Gear as standard. A range of panels, paint schemes and other options are available.

THE PROGRAM

FX builders will spend a five-day session at CubCrafters’ headquarters working with factory technicians
 to fabricate and assemble the steel, aluminum and composite aircraft components.

CubCrafters uses the customer-built components to assemble a nearly-complete Carbon Cub FX.

Approximately 50 days after the first build session, the builder returns to put the finishing touches on the aircraft
 — one day for final assembly and preparation for airworthiness inspection and one day for airworthiness inspection, certification and a minimum of two test flights by CubCrafters test pilots.