LAKELAND, Florida — On opening day of the 2023 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, CubCrafters unveiled its newest model, the Carbon Cub UL, designed for international markets.
The company has invested in several new technologies to make the Carbon Cub UL even lighter and better performing than its predecessor, the Carbon Cub SS, according to CubCrafters officials.
The goal is an airplane that can fly on mogas and avgas, meets ASTM standards, and carries two adults with a full fuel load and a reasonable amount of baggage at a takeoff weight of 1,320 pounds or under, company officials said.
Key to the development of the new aircraft is CubCrafters’ collaboration with BRP-Rotax, which is launching its new 160-hp turbocharged engine on the Carbon Cub UL, CubCrafters officials noted.
“The new 916 iS engine is lighter, more fuel efficient, and can produce more power than the normally aspirated CC340 engine on the Carbon Cub SS in higher density altitude scenarios,” officials said.
The production version of the new aircraft is slated to be built, certified, and test flown as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) at the CubCrafters factory in Yakima, Washington, but will also meet Ultralight category requirements in many international jurisdictions.
“The aircraft can remain in the LSA category for our customers in Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and even the United States, but it can also be deregistered, exported, and then reregistered as an Ultralight category aircraft in many jurisdictions in Europe, South America, and elsewhere,” explained Brad Damm, vice president of sales and marketing for CubCrafters. “This is a concept we’ve looked at for the last several years. Our kit aircraft program has always been strong in overseas markets, and now we are very excited to have a fully factory assembled and tested aircraft to offer to our international customers.”
The UL concept of a lighter and even better performing version of the Carbon Cub for international markets was first seen in early March 2023 in Dubai, where a technology demonstrator version of the aircraft was able to successfully land and takeoff again from a 27-meter diameter heliport on top of Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel.
The first Rotax 916 iS-powered Carbon Cub UL, an engineering development prototype, is on display and can be seen at the CubCrafters exhibit at SUN ‘n FUN.
CubCrafters will be accepting deposits for the Carbon Cub UL starting at the show, and with the company’s current backlog of new aircraft orders, the first consumer deliveries are expected in early 2025, company officials said.
For more information: CubCrafters.com