Photograph:
CubCrafters CC18-180 Top Cub VH-JAP (c/n CC18-0052) at Temora, NSW in April 2012 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
(CCX18-180)
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-C4P four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.72 m (35 ft 2 in)
- Length: 7.16 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.56 m (8 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 16.53 m² (178 sq ft)
- Max speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)
- Cruising speed at 55% power: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed at 65% power: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 204 km/h (127 mph)
- Stalling speed: 77 km/h (48 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,420 m (14,500 ft)
- Take-off run: 128 m (420 ft)
- Landing run: 146 m (480 ft)
- Max range: 1,150 km (715 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 189 litres (41.6 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
- Useful load: 499 kg (1,100 lb)
- Max payload weight with full fuel: 352 kg (776 lb)
- Baggage capacity: 95 kg (210 lb)
- Loaded weight: 701 kg (2,300 lb)
History:
CubCrafters was founded in 1980 by Mr James Richmond in Yakima, Washington to re-build and modify Piper PA-18 Super Cubs and similar aircraft. By 2007 more than 120 aircraft had been through the Company’s re-manufacturing facility. Eventually it was decided to offer an upgraded and developed variant as a new-build variant of the Super Cub.
The Top Cub was one of a series of developments of the Piper Super Cub. With a useful load of 499 kg (1,100 lb) it could be used for work or recreational flying and could be fitted with Wipline 2100 amphibious floats, and in such form it has been used in Canada. American FAA certification was obtained in December 2004.
Tundra tyres in size up to 90 cm (35 in) were approved, as was an optional cargo belly pod, which permitted the aircraft to carry two people, full fuel and up to 159 kg (350 lb) of cargo.
For many years the Company has been involved in the rebuilding and overhaul of Super Cubs and eventually it decided to use its expertise and modification experience to produce an all-new factory aircraft along the lines of the Super Cub but with better performance and greater manoeuvrability than the original aircraft.
Power plant was the Lycoming O-360-C4P driving a Sensenich propeller but the McCauley metal propeller or the Sensenich wooden propeller were optional. One variant on the theme was the Carbon Cub which used different materials in its construction and was 91 kg (200 lb) lighter due to a modern aluminium wing structure and a completely re-designed fuselage, this model being able to achieve a maximum cruising speed of 225 km/h (140 mph).
The Sport Cub S2 was also available and met US LSA Regulations, being powered by a 75 kw (100 hp) Continental O-200 engine. The Company had plans to market upgraded variants of the PA-11 Cub Special and the J-3 Cub.
In November 2008 it was announced that the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) had certified the CC18-180 Top Cub as a ready-to-fly aircraft available in Australia.