Yeee-Haa!
That was the unbridled reaction to my first solo takeoff in a Carbon Cub SS, the new LSA from CubCrafters. When I pushed the little black knob forward to unleash the 180 hp CC340 engine, the tail lightened swiftly and the airplane quickly started dancing softly on its 29-inch Alaska Bushwheel Airstreak tires before I realized I was the only one not quite ready to fly. In spite of my slow response, takeoff roll was just a few hundred feet, and the climb rate was invigorating, inviting comparison to a helicopter instead of an airplane. CubCrafters likes to call this aircraft a “high performance LSA,” and it is.
Did I mention that I was departing from a grass strip just south of Denver called Rocky Mountain Airpark at an elevation of 6,295 feet and a temperature of 70 degrees? That makes for a rather formidable density altitude of 8,400 feet. Impressive performance for a high-altitude takeoff! There’s nothing quite like a light aircraft with a big engine to put a smile on your face.
