CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL

{{Short description|American light kit airplane}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use American English|date=April 2023}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Carbon Cub UL | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub UL (N6137R, cn CC11-00333) (4-10-2024).jpg | alt = | caption = Carbon Cub UL at 2024 [[Sun 'n Fun]] | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Light-sport aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = [[Cub Crafters]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Under development (2023) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = March 2023 | retired = | first_flight = 2023 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL''' is an American [[light-sport aircraft|light-sport]] and [[ultralight aircraft]] that is under development by [[Cub Crafters]] of [[Yakima, Washington]], introduced at the [[Sun 'n Fun]] airshow in March 2023. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a kit for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]] or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23">{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/carbon-cub-gets-a-rotax/|title= Carbon Cub Gets A Rotax|access-date= 29 March 2023|last= Bertorelli|first= Paul|work= AVweb|date= 28 March 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230329111416/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/carbon-cub-gets-a-rotax/|archive-date= 29 March 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Bertorelli01Apr23">{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/insider/rotax-and-cubcrafters-lets-hear-it-for-putting-light-back-into-light-aircraft/|title= Rotax and CubCrafters: Let's Hear It For Putting Light Back Into Light Aircraft|access-date= April 3, 2023|last= Bertorelli|first= Paul|work= AVweb|date= April 1, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403114934/https://www.avweb.com/insider/rotax-and-cubcrafters-lets-hear-it-for-putting-light-back-into-light-aircraft/|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Cook31Mar23">{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/multimedia/cubcrafters-unveils-the-new-carbon-cub-ul/|title = Sun 'n Fun 2023: CubCrafters Unveils The New Carbon Cub UL|access-date = April 3, 2023|last = Cook|first = Marc|work =AVweb |date = March 31, 2023|archive-date= April 3, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403114927/https://www.avweb.com/multimedia/cubcrafters-unveils-the-new-carbon-cub-ul/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Godlewski">{{cite web|url= https://www.flyingmag.com/cubcrafters-unveils-carbon-cub-ul/|title= CubCrafters Unveils Carbon Cub UL|access-date= April 3, 2023|last= Godlewski|first= Meg|work= [[Flying (magazine)|Flying]]|date= March 30, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403154149/https://www.flyingmag.com/cubcrafters-unveils-carbon-cub-ul/|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Lynch30Mar23">{{cite web|url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2023-03-30/cubcrafters-rolls-out-ul-variant-updated-engine|title= CubCrafters Rolls Out UL Variant with Updated Engine|access-date= April 3, 2023|last= Lynch|first= Kerry|work= AIN OnLine|date= March 30, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230401004026/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2023-03-30/cubcrafters-rolls-out-ul-variant-updated-engine|archive-date= April 1, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="KP">{{cite web|url= https://www.kitplanes.com/cubcrafters-unveils-the-new-carbon-cub-ul/|title= CubCrafters Unveils the New Carbon Cub UL|access-date= April 3, 2023|last= Cook|first= Marc|work= KitPlanes|date= March 31, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403154520/https://www.kitplanes.com/cubcrafters-unveils-the-new-carbon-cub-ul/|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Official">{{cite web|url= https://cubcrafters.com/c/2023/03/press-release-cubcrafters-to-offer-new-rotax-powered-carbon-cub/|title= PRESS RELEASE – CubCrafters to Offer New Rotax Powered Carbon Cub|access-date= April 3, 2023|author= Cub Crafters|author-link= Cub Crafters|work= cubcrafters.com|date= March 28, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403155036/https://cubcrafters.com/c/2023/03/press-release-cubcrafters-to-offer-new-rotax-powered-carbon-cub/|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>

Still under development in March 2023, the first customer deliveries are forecast for 2025.<ref name="Godlewski"/>

==Design and development== The design is a development of the [[CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS]] that has been lightened to improve performance, including the newly designed [[Rotax 916 iS]] engine, for which this aircraft is the launch customer.<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Cook31Mar23"/><ref name="Godlewski"/><ref name="KP"/><ref name="Official"/><ref name="RotaxOfficial">{{cite web|url= https://www.flyrotax.com/products/916-is-c|title= 916 iS A, iSc A, iS C24, iSc C24|access-date= April 3, 2023|author= BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG|author-link= Rotax|work= flyrotax.com|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403154751/https://www.flyrotax.com/products/916-is-c|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="RotaxPR">{{cite web|url= https://www.flyrotax.com/n/916is-launch|title= Press Release 916iS/c - the impossible engine|access-date= April 3, 2023|author= BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG|author-link= Rotax|work= flyrotax.com|date= March 28, 2023|archive-url= https://archive.today/20230403154920/https://www.flyrotax.com/n/916is-launch|archive-date= April 3, 2023|url-status= live}}</ref>

It has been designed to fit the US light-sport aircraft category with a {{convert|1320|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross weight and also many other nations' [[ultralight aircraft]] categories, to facilitate exports.<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Bertorelli01Apr23"/><ref name="Godlewski"/><ref name="Lynch30Mar23"/><ref name="KP"/><ref name="Official"/>

The aircraft features a [[strut-braced]] [[high-wing]] with [[jury struts]], a two-seats-in-[[tandem]] enclosed cockpit accessed by doors, fixed [[conventional landing gear]] and a single engine in [[tractor configuration]].<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Bertorelli01Apr23"/><ref name="Godlewski"/><ref name="KP"/>

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in [[Aircraft dope|doped]] [[aircraft fabric]]. Use is made of [[pre-preg]] [[composite material]]s, lighter fabric and [[titanium]] components, including the [[Firewall (engine)|firewall]] and [[landing gear]], to reduce the empty weight. The standard engine used is the {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 916 iS]] [[four-stroke]], [[turbocharged]], liquid and air-cooled powerplant, with [[FADEC]], which can run on unleaded automotive [[gasoline]] or [[avgas]]. Due to its turbocharger, the engine can produce full power up to {{convert|17000|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Bertorelli01Apr23"/><ref name="Godlewski"/><ref name="KP"/><ref name="RotaxPR"/>

Regarding the choice of powerplants for the design, aviation writer Paul Bertorelli stated, "the 916 iS gives CubCrafters an uncharacteristic opportunity to shear away from driving increased performance with power loading to driving it with structural efficiency".<ref name="Bertorelli01Apr23"/>

The development was forecast to be completed later in 2023, a demonstrator in 2024 and with the first customer deliveries forecast for 2025.<ref name="Cook31Mar23"/><ref name="Godlewski"/><ref name="KP"/>

On February 25, 2025, [[Cub Crafters|CubCrafters]], in collaboration with [[Hartzell Propeller]], announced the development of a lightweight constant-speed propeller designed specifically for the Rotax 916-powered Carbon Cub UL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hartzell Launches Composite Prop for Rotax 916 Engines |last=Johnson |first=Kimberly |work=FLYING Magazine |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=19 March 2025 |url= https://www.flyingmag.com/hartzell-launches-composite-prop-for-rotax-916-engines/}}</ref>

==Operational history== The [[prototype]] was landed on the {{convert|88|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} diameter rooftop [[helipad]] at the [[Burj Al Arab]] hotel in [[Dubai]] on March 15, 2023, as a [[Red Bull]] sponsored stunt.<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Cook31Mar23"/>

On October 28, 2025, a CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL, piloted by Jon Kotwicki, climbed to a verified altitude of {{convert|37609|ft|m|0}} over the California coast near [[San Luis Obispo, California]], setting an unofficial altitude record for Cub-type aircraft. The flight surpassed a previous record of {{convert|30203|ft|m|0}} set in 1951 by pilot Caro Bayley flying a Piper Super Cub.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS RELEASE – Carbon Cub UL Soars to Record Altitude of 37,609 ft |url=https://cubcrafters.com/c/2025/10/press-release-cubcrafters-carbon-cub-ul-soars-to-record-altitude-of-37609-ft/ |publisher=CubCrafters |date=October 30, 2025 |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

==Specifications (Carbon Cub UL) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=AvWeb and KitPlanes<ref name="Bertorelli28Mar23"/><ref name="Cook31Mar23"/><ref name="KP"/> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=1320 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 916 iS]] |eng1 type=four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, [[four stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=160

|perfhide=Y

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== *[[List of aircraft]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commonscat|CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub UL}} *{{Official website|https://cubcrafters.com/c/2023/03/press-release-cubcrafters-to-offer-new-rotax-powered-carbon-cub/}}

[[Category:CubCrafters aircraft|Cub Crafters aircraft]] [[Category:2020s United States sport aircraft]] [[Category:2020s United States civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2023]]