On Winter’s First Day

CubCrafters, the Yakima, Washington-based manufacturer of kit airplanes patterned after Piper’s iconic PA-18 Super Cub, has announced its acquisition of Sandpoint, Idaho’s Summit Aircraft Skis. The deal includes Summit’s design and manufacturing assets, unique patents, and related intellectual property.

Summit Aircraft Skis are favored by Carbon Cub aircraft owners and preferred by the owners of myriad backcountry-capable aircraft. Summit’s unique ski design allows pilots to quickly and easily configure their aircraft to fly to remote, primitive, otherwise inaccessible wintery environs.

CubCrafters President and CEO Patrick Horgan stated: "We are very excited and pleased to welcome Summit's customers and products into our family here in Yakima. It has been a joy for our team to work together with Mike Custard, Summit's founder, to coordinate a smooth ski manufacturing transition. Adding Summit Skis to the CubCrafters product lineup allows us to better meet our customers’ needs and adds a new profit center. We see a great potential for growth with the Summit brand that we want to be a part of going forward.”

Mr. Horgan went on to explain that the acquisition aligns the expertise of CubCrafters and Summit Ski for purpose of promoting a robust, patented design that significantly improves value for consumers. Manufacturing of skis has already begun in Yakima; going forward Summit Skis will be available on CubCrafters aircraft, as well as those of competing manufacturers.

CubCrafters’ vice president Brad Damm added: "Summit Skis, when combined with the outstanding wintertime defrost and cabin heater technology used on our FX-3 model, makes that aircraft the ultimate ski airplane. The acquisition is part of an ambitious growth and business development strategy that has been supported by the outstanding early success of our recently announced public stock offering.”

In November 2022, for the first time in the company’s 42-year history, CubCrafters was qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission to make a $50-million public stock offering using the Regulation A+ exemption.

Summit Aircraft Corporation founder Mike Custard observed that the Summit Ski design utilizes a patented bolt-on attachment bracket that—unlike more traditional products—eliminates the need to weld skis to the landing gear and attachments. The design offers lower weight and better aerodynamics than most competitors’ penetration skis.

Mr. Custard remarked: “Our like-minded drive for high quality innovation is one of the main reasons we chose CubCrafters as our successor. CubCrafters’ leadership, its people, and facilities are all outstanding. The tooling and construction techniques are familiar to the CubCrafters’ composites facility and staff.” Custard added: “I will remain onboard for some time to ensure that the transition is smooth and that this is a great move for both our customers and the future of aircraft ski development and manufacturing.”

Alaska backcountry flying expert Bob Breeden—who uses Summit Skis on his Super Cub—asserts:  “I’ve been using Summits’ skis for some time now and they have enabled me to adventure further afield and discover and land in new, fresh places. I really love these skis and I’m very pleased to hear that they will be in CubCrafters’ capable hands going forward. I know the team there will keep the innovation going and will ensure the skis are supported in the future.”

FMI: www.cubcrafters.com