Carbon Cub Pilot Takes STOL to The Extreme With Helipad Landing

The Red Bull event gave Luke Czepiela, Mike Patey, and CubCrafters a highly visible stage in Dubai.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 01:49 PM ET

Verified

Pilot Luke Czepiela nails the landing with a specially prepared Carbon Cub on the helipad atop the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. [Courtesy: CubCrafters-Red Bull]

Key Takeaways:

CubCrafters, in partnership with Red Bull and XDubai, orchestrated an unprecedented landing of a modified Carbon Cub aircraft on the helipad of Dubai's 56-story Burj Al Arab Hotel.
Red Bull Air Race pilot Luke Czepiela successfully landed the aircraft on the 90-foot-wide helipad, showcasing the extreme short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities of the modified Carbon Cub and the pilot's exceptional skill.
The high-stakes stunt involved two years of planning and specific modifications to the aircraft, including weight reduction, center of gravity adjustments, and increased horsepower, pushing the limits of aviation achievement.

See a mistake? Contact us.

For all of the pilots who enjoy the challenge of landing short enough to take the first turnoff from the runway, CubCrafters has raised the bar.

The aircraft maker collaborated with Red Bull and the extreme sports promoter XDubai to stage the landing of a Carbon Cub on the helipad atop the 56-story Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE. Luke Czepiela, a Red Bull Air Race pilot and Carbon Cub owner, flew a modified version of the aircraft onto the pad, which is about 90 feet wide and 695 feet above sea level.