CC340 Engine Makes 180 HP On Takeoff
Yakima, WA-based CubCrafters seems determined to offer a Cub for
nearly anyone's tastes. On Tuesday, the company unveiled its new
Super Sport Cub, the company's most powerful aircraft to date...
and, it's an LSA.
Available immediately, the Super Sport Cub is an upgraded
version of CubCrafters' existing Sport Cub S2. The two-place
aircraft boasts the largest engine in the LSA industry, a whopper
340 cubic inch engine producing up to 180 HP for takeoff and climb,
and a continuous 80 HP at altitudes up to 12,000 feet.
That translates to a rate-of-climb well over 2,100 feet per
minute, according to the company... which also notes the Super
Sport Cub's power-to-weight ratio exceeds that of a P-51D Mustang,
providing takeoff distances of less than 100 feet at gross
weight.
All of this is made possible with the certification of
CubCrafters' own ASTM compliant engine, the CC340. In partnership
with ECI, CubCrafters has created a four cylinder, air-cooled
engine that is certified to ASTM standards.
Power and efficiency are achieved with electronic ignition, high
compression pistons and a new light-weight design. Cruise power
settings produce a miserly 5-6 gallons per hour fuel burn while
enabling the newest Cub to loaf along at a cruise speed of 120 MPH.
Open the throttle and you can see 138 MPH... putting the Super
Sport Cub in rarefied air, at the top of the LSA 120-knot speed
limit.
CubCrafters calls the Super Sport Cub "a complete redesign of
the venerable Super Cub." Using carbon fiber composites
extensively, 2024-T3 aluminum in the ribs and wing skins, and a
more efficient fuselage design were just a few of the many
improvements. CubCrafters tested the airframe to 40% beyond the
ASTM requirements of 4Gs for certification.
"We don't know of any other LSA manufacturer who has actually
tested their airframe to margins this far in excess of the
requirements" said Jim Richmond, CEO and founder of CubCrafters.
"We tested it to 5.65G's for the design limits, and 8.5G's for the
ultimate loads".
The airframe is an identical twin of the Carbon Cub developed
for the home-built market, and the two aircraft share nearly all
airframe components. Base price for the two place S-LSA certified
Super Sport Cub starts at $163,280.