Second generation Sport Cub S2 announced at Oshkosh
July 24th, 2007
With more than 100 specific design improvements, new standard features, and new optional equipment that substantially improve safety, performance, utility, and comfort over its predecessor, CubCrafters SPORT CUB “Series 2″ made its premiere today.
CubCrafters Vice President Todd Simmons noted the importance of this new airplane to the legacy of the Cub design: “The first Cub was born nearly 70 years ago, and in the following decades more than 40,000 of those airplanes were produced! Twenty-Seven years ago, CubCrafters founder Jim Richmond picked up where Piper left off, and Jim’s work quickly became the recognized industry standard for Super Cub restorations and modifications. In just the last four years, CubCrafters introduced both the original LSA-category SPORT CUB, and its big brother the “Part 23″ certified TOP CUB, to industry acclaim. And today, we’ve incorporated everything we know about Super Cubs into SPORT CUB S2, and it continues our tradition of excellence. We are confident that S2 will earn more rave reviews and industry awards.”
“Why improve so much on the original?” Simmons continued. “The light sport segment is now firmly entrenched in aviation and it has been more than ‘legitimized’ by so many significant industry players. Indeed, Oshkosh this year clearly shows us that LSA is nascent no more. But with that growth and acceptance of the category, the market is also speaking clearly about LSA choices and our customers want even more for their aircraft investment and ownership experience. They are not satisfied with the ‘perceived’ limitation of a light sport airplane, especially when they have to compromise on features and options that are very commonly found in aircraft outside the segment.”
“So our owners surely want the legacy and iconic flight characteristics of so many ‘Cub’ aircraft, but especially the Super Cub. They also demand substantially improved safety, performance, comfort, capability, ease of maintenance and a very wide choice of optional equipment that no original or reproduction Cub can provide. And even though the new Series 2 now comes standard with the latest AmSafe Airbag technology for both pilot and co-pilot, Wing flaps, Vortex Generators, and 25 gallons of fuel capacity in two wing tanks, owners still want to further personalize their dream airplanes. They want ‘flat panels’, traffic monitoring transponders and other avionics, upgraded intercom for the best voice transmission and XM radio clarity, ELT options, backcountry tundra tires, metal props, lights, strobes, fire extinguisher, floats, optional paint schemes and more. And they want to have all those options in a fully compliant, legal, 2-place S-LSA airplane.”
Simmons summarized, “SPORT CUB S2 uniquely answers the demand for more because S2 is a Super Cub that you can fly without a medical and it forever leaves the open-cowled, J-3 type Cub aircraft behind.”
New Standard Features, Design Improvements, and Options
“So what is new in SPORT CUB S2? It might be easier to ask what is not new in S2, as there is certainly no shortage of new standard features and options!” Simmons noted. All new in SPORT CUB S2 is:
- Fully Compliant with all Light Sport Aircraft Regulations
- 2nd generation airbags by AmSafe designed exclusively for the SPORT CUB S2 as standard equipment for both pilot and co-pilot;
- Lighter weight plus stronger material plus more power equals the “S2 “Performance Package”, a combination of over 40 new carbon fiber and composite parts, increased horsepower via the AWI “4 into 1″ exhaust system and other stronger, light weight materials such as an updated tailspring, new lightweight double puck brakes and calipers and lighter but stronger windows. The result of these changes is reduced empty weight, increased payload, reduced takeoff and landing distances, and increased climb performance. CubCrafters validated the SPORT CUB S2 “Performance Package” in the Carbon Cub “proof of concept” airplane that took off in just 19 feet at the Valdez ‘May Day” Fly-in this year!
- A new cabin door, new adjustable rear seat design, new cabin heater, new tailwheel, new wingtip and taillight housing, improved engine cooling, and new engine mount…just to name a few of the many new airframe improvements.
- Optional AOSS landing gear (Alpha Omega Suspension System), 26″ or 31″ Airstreak tundra tires specially made for the CubCrafters SPORT CUB S2 by Alaskan Bushwheels, and Baumann 1500 series straight floats certified for use on SPORT CUBport Cub S2 under LSA requirements;
- A brand new appeareance package including an all-new S2 paint scheme and exterior S2-edition badging.
Simmons concluded: “A design goal that we achieved in the original SPORT CUB and that we have improved upon in SPORT CUB S2 is we are giving our customers the most capability and flexibility of any LSA aircraft while in full compliance with LSA certification requirements. A 100 hp, 2-place, S-LSA must meet the Minimum Useful Load requirement of 430 lbs and a Maximum Empty Weight requirement of 890 lbs, including all standard and optional equipment, per ASTM 2245: Standard Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Aircraft. If a 100 hp, 2-place LSA Cub were to weigh more than 890 lbs empty, including optional equipment, then not only would its certification basis and ongoing airworthiness be in question, but its insurability and other key ownership issues would be also be unclear, as would be true for any non-compliant aircraft.”
“Every CubCrafters airplane ever made has been in full compliance with all applicable certification regulations. That’s always been the case and it always will be. Our customers can rest assured that SPORT CUB S2 not only meets that standard, but that it gives them even more value in their light sport airplane. Ultimately that’s an issue of trust, and at CubCrafters our customers’ confidence in us for the long run is a cornerstone of our business.”
For complete details of CubCrafters new SPORT CUB S2, please visit www.cubcrafters.com, contact us at the number below, or during EAA Airventure visit the CubCrafters display located at spaces 112 and 113 in the main aircraft display area.
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