CubCrafters NXCub gets FAA Certification

Previously, the NXCubs were produced in the experimental category. Courtesy: CubCrafters

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.

Airplanes CubCrafters FAA NXCub Part 23 single-engine piston

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.