CubCrafters, of Yakima, Wash., this week introduced the Super Sport Cub LSA, a beefier version of their Sport Cub. Equipped with a new 340-cubic-inch engine developed by CubCrafters and ECI, the airplane can take off in less than 100 feet even at gross weight, and climb out at over 2,100 fpm. The new CC340 four-cylinder engine is certified to ASTM standards and produces up to 180 hp for takeoff and climb while maintaining 80 hp continuous power up to 12,000 feet, with a fuel burn of about 5 to 6 gph. “It’s a very powerful engine and probably something that wasn’t expected in the LSA industry,” CubCrafters CEO Jim Richmond told AVweb on Wednesday. “But the beauty of operating an engine that’s more powerful than it needs to be, is that when you power back to cruise speed, the fuel flows are the same as with a smaller engine.”
At 240 to 245 pounds dry weight, the CC340 is about 35 pounds lighter than a comparable Lycoming engine, Richmond said. The weight savings came from replacing the magnetos with electronic ignition, along with a range of small changes. “A gram here and a gram there, and it all adds up,” Richmond said. The airframe is essentially the same as for the Carbon Cub kit, made from carbon fiber and other composites with aluminum ribs. The Super Sport Cub can be delivered with tundra tires, floats or skis. Click here to check out the CubCrafter Web site for more info and a video, or check it out in person later this month at Sun ‘n Fun. Base price is $163,280.
