A Cub Project Update

[Wyandot Jim]

Hey Guys,
I have been spending quite a bit of time at Son Trey's place North of Ft Worth. So I thought it was about time for an update on the Carbon Cub Project.
Thanks for looking
Jim

Engine is installed and components are hooked up. The engine cowling has been fitted and painted. Prop and spinner has been installed but removed so The Old Fat Guy doesn't keep running into it.

Instrument panel and wiring is pretty much finished and every thing works:-)

Installed and rigged tail feathers.

I will be going back to Trey's in 10 days for 3 weeks. We will be installing the wings, fitting the windshield and other components that couldn't be done until wings are on.

 

[turd]

I'm pretty much airplane dumb, so excuse me for the questions. Is this pretty much a restoration, or new construction (meaning mostly new parts)? Are you finding parts at airplane "junk" yards and refurbishing them? In any case, this looks like someone that really knows what they are doing. Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[Shotgungibbs]

Wow! You all have been busy! It's looking great!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

turd,
This is a all NEW material Kit that is supplied by Cub Crafters in Yakama WA.


It looks like this when it arrives at the front door. Some assembly required and batteries not included

 

[Danjet500]

I've never built an airplane but I've assembled a few kit cars. Its a good feeling once the electricals are complete to put power to it and no smoke comes out!
Looks great. Congratulations so far.

 

[Fox Mike]

Looking good! Keep the photos coming. Never thought till now but is this a 'bolt/rivet together' or is welding required?

 

[turd]

Wow, nice work.

 

[caryc]

I think it would be neat to put it all together without skinning it so you would have a "visible airplane" like those "visible watches" where you see all the insides. But, I guess it wouldn't fly too good like that.

Nice job though. You guys must have a whole mess of brains between the two of you.

 

[contender]

Great update Jim! Keep it up!

 

[g5m]

Very neat!

 

[gramps]

Good job Jim and Trey!!!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Frank,
The fuselage and tail feathers are 4130 chrome moly steel that is welded together along with a few other parts. Unlike my Starduster Too which I bought the raw tubing and welded it myself. All of the welding has already been done for this one.
The wings have 2024-T3 alum. spar, flaps and ailerons. The ribs leading edges and miscellaneous parts are riveted and bolted to the spars

Caryc You mean like this??? Looks good but doesn't fly very well:-)

 

[caryc]

Frank,
The fuselage and tail feathers are 4130 chrome moly steel that is welded together along with a few other parts. Unlike my Starduster Too which I bought the raw tubing and welded it myself. All of the welding has already been done for this one.
The wings have 2024-T3 alum. spar, flaps and ailerons. The ribs leading edges and miscellaneous parts are riveted and bolted to the spars

Caryc You mean like this??? Looks good but doesn't fly very well:)


View attachment 11539

Of course it cain't fly. Tain't got no spinny thing on the front. Cool.

 

[Zonker5]

Beautiful!

When do you expect to have it done? I am close and would love to see it fly.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Beautiful!

When do you expect to have it done? I am close and would love to see it fly.

Zonker5,
Hard to say probably late Jan./Feb. Trey is located at Fairview Airport which Is a little Eest of Rome. You are more than welcome to come out before it flies if you want. We got plenty of stuff to look at:)

This Ole War Horse still lives their:)

 

[WendyZXZ]

Fine pictures and update!

 

[Zonker5]

Zonker5,
Hard to say probably late Jan./Feb. Trey is located at Fairview Airport which Is a little Eest of Rome. You are more than welcome to come out before it flies if you want. We got plenty of stuff to look at:)

This Ole War Horse still lives their:)

I'm about 40 minutes from you, I will definitely make a trip that way soon.

 

[caryc]

Hey Jim, I don't know if this question is appropriate or not so if you'd rather not answer, that's cool. I'm wondering what the price of that kit was. If you don't want to answer that how about this, can you give us a hint about how much money is saved by purchasing the kit rather than a new plane?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Hey Jim, I don't know if this question is appropriate or not so if you'd rather not answer, that's cool. I'm wondering what the price of that kit was. If you don't want to answer that how about this, can you give us a hint about how much money is saved by purchasing the kit rather than a new plane?

Hey caryc,
As I have stated before I'm an open book and willing to share info to RF friends. We will have around $225-230K in the material and 1500 hrs+- of labor.
When finished and the FAA mandatory 40 hrs. flown off which is required for experimental amateur built aircraft it will sell for around $400-$410K. I know what you are thinking THAT IS CRAZY MONEY. I think the same thing. But there are a lot of high $$$ people out there that want these Cubs. The wait for one from the factory is 18-24 months.
If you were to buy one from the factory equipped like this one it would cost around $450K and you would have to spend two 5 day trips to the factory to participate in their builder assist program plus fly off the 40 hrs. or pay some one 7K+- to do it. All of the EX-3s(Built at Home) and FX-3s(Built at Factory) are amateur built aircraft so you must have participation in building one.
Hope this helps,
Jim

 

[caryc]

Hey caryc,
As I have stated before I'm an open book and willing to share info to RF friends. We will have around $225-230K in the material and 1500 hrs+- of labor.
When finished and the FAA mandatory 40 hrs. flown off which is required for experimental amateur built aircraft it will sell for around $400-$410K. I know what you are thinking THAT IS CRAZY MONEY. I think the same thing. But there are a lot of high $$$ people out there that want these Cubs. The wait for one from the factory is 18-24 months.
If you were to buy one from the factory equipped like this one it would cost around $450K and you would have to spend two 5 day trips to the factory to participate in their builder assist program plus fly off the 40 hrs. or pay some one 7K+- to do it. All of the EX-3s(Built at Home) and FX-3s(Built at Factory) are amateur built aircraft so you must have participation in building one.
Hope this helps,
Jim

Thanks very much for all that info. I guess flying is a pretty expensive hobby.

One of the reasons I asked was that I was wondering where the people on those Alaskan shows get the money to buy a plane. I mean how much money can one make trapping fur?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Thanks very much for all that info. I guess flying is a pretty expensive hobby.

One of the reasons I asked was that I was wondering where the people on those Alaskan shows get the money to buy a plane. I mean how much money can one make trapping fur?

I have never seen the program so don't know what types of planes they are using. You can buy good planes for a LOT less than a Carbon Cub but they will not be new. They could be 50-75 years old BUT there isn't anything wrong with that. My Bonanza and Champion are 60 years old and the SNJ-4 is almost 80. A fair condition 2 place Cub type plane will cost $15,000-60,000 this price will also include many 4 place models.

 

[caryc]

I have never seen the program so don't know what types of planes they are using. You can buy good planes for a LOT less than a Carbon Cub but they will not be new. They could be 50-75 years old BUT there isn't anything wrong with that. My Bonanza and Champion are 60 years old and the SNJ-4 is almost 80. A fair condition 2 place Cub type plane will cost $15,000-60,000 this price will also include many 4 place models.

I don't think I'd want to fly in a "fair condition" airplane.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I don't think I'd like to fly in a "fair condition" airplane. :mrgreen:"

Bad choice of words. How about not an award winner fresh out of the restoration shop but a solid flyer:-)

 

[caryc]

Bad choice of words. How about not an award winner fresh out of the restoration shop but a solid flyer:)

That's a little better. ;)

 

[Dave P.]

I doubt very many of the Carbon Cubs being built are headed out into a "working" airplanes life. Don't see them loaded with
cargo, hunters, and dead animals, grinding out a route in the bush. Suspect most are heading into pristine hangers to live a pampered
life, being pulled out on a nice day for a ride in search of what used to be the $100 burger. These are more like a high end collector car
than a Ford Crown Vic taxi cab. These are toys, really nice toys, the custom resto-mods of the aircraft world.
As Jim pointed out $50,000 would buy something with 90% of the flying capabilities, maybe even $35,000.
What you would not get at that price point would be the modern avionics, but depending how it was flown they might not
even be missed.

Edit....Jim, if you see this are those fuselages TIG or MIG welded at the factory?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Dave,
You are spot on with your description. Some do spend time flying into the back country and STOL competition. Grandson has sold and become friends with some high $$$$ owners think Waltons of Benton AR. Since the EX and FX are Experimental Amateur Built Category they can not fly for hire. Cub Crafters does build a Certificated Model.
The fuselages and tail feathers are TIG welded.

 

[Fox Mike]

Does the Cub require an A&P (IA) annual.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Does the Cub require an A&P (IA) annual.

Frank,
Yes Experimental Amateur Built Category Aircraft require an annual.
If you are the original builder as I am with my Starduster Too I can sign off the Annual by having a FAA Repairman Certificate. I can not sign off other aircraft only mine. If not the builder you must have an A&P sign it off. It does not have to have an IA sign it off

 

[Fox Mike]

Thanks for the information. Just updated my civilian aircraft knowledge.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

The Carbon Cub EX-2 the 3 of us previously built.