Is it still a Cub if it has a nosewheel? The answer is yes, if it is the CubCrafters NXCub.
The Yakima-based company has received Part 23 certification for the nosewheel-equipped version of the design, making it a fully FAA-certified aircraft.
Previously, the NXCubs were produced in the experimental category.
According to CubCrafters, the NXCub was developed to increase access to backcountry flying for pilots who do not have a tailwheel endorsement. It will also provide an option to government agencies and other organizations that want the versatility of aircraft designed for excursions in places without runways, but prefer nosewheel-equipped designs for operational safety across a range of pilot capabilities, as well as insurability.
According to Brad Damm, vice president of sales and marketing for CubCrafters, the development of the NXCub began in 2019 when a fuel-injected version of the XCub was created, eliminating the need for a carburetor.
“It was important to remove the carburetor because that’s where the nosewheel attached,” Damm explained, adding that the NXCub experimental category became available in 2020 through CubCrafter builder-assist program.
The NXCub is available on legacy gear and spring gear, and also on amphibious and straight floats.
