If you’re already the world’s most successful modern Cub manufacturer, what can you do to make things even easier for pilots who want to build and fly the legendary Cub? Short of giving away their twenty-first century design methods and Cub architecture for free, CubCrafters has come up with the next best thing.
A newly announced Carbon Cub FX builder's assistance program bonds builders to the intricacies of their aircraft because factory specialists walk them through each part of the Experimental amateur-built (E-AB) manufacturing process during a five-day construction session at CubCrafters’ Yakima, Washington, headquarters.
Jim Richmond, CubCrafters founder and CEO, explained in a press release that builders of the $219,900 Carbon Cub FX begin with five eight-hour days on the factory floor working hand-in-hand with technicians to construct their Cub using steel, aluminum, and composite aircraft components. Then, CubCrafters assembles these customer-built components for a nearly complete Carbon Cub FX.
About 50 days later, builders return to put the finishing touches on their aircraft. They’ll spend one day completing final assembly and preparing for airworthiness inspection; another day is reserved for the airworthiness inspection, certification, and at least two test flights by CubCrafters test pilots.
After the supervised project is complete, the builder-buyer receives a one-year aircraft warranty that the company calls “unprecedented” for Experimental amateur-built aircraft.
“Carbon Cub FX turns the familiar ‘builder assist’ convention upside down,” said Richmond. “Instead of assisting your assembly of parts from a kit, CubCrafters’ technicians facilitate your fabrication of the parts themselves! Using our modern facilities and equipment, we will guide you through the fabrication process in an astonishingly short time.”
CubCrafters said the program satisfies the FAA Major Portion Rule (also known as the “51-percent rule”), where builders must complete more than half of the aircraft construction described in the Amateur-Built Aircraft Fabrication and Assembly Checklist (FAA Advisory Circular 20-27G, Appendix 8).
Richmond said no prior technical experience is necessary. “Our factory personnel will guide you through each process to ensure that your parts are in-spec and meet our quality standards,” he continued. “You can create your dream under the supervision of our staff, and we’ll guarantee delivery of a world-class aircraft.”
CubCrafters also offers the Carbon Cub in a kit version as the EX-2, plus three ready-to-fly aircraft: the Sport Cub S2 and Carbon Cub SS light sport aircraft, and a certified Top Cub with a useful load of more than 1,000 lbs.
With the new Carbon Cub FX program, the firm hopes to ease builder-pilots into their Cub dens quicker and more easily than if they were to construct a Carbon Cub solo.
