“Think of it as a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign in the air.”
That’s how members of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP) describe the acquisition of an NXCub from CubCrafters. The modified backcountry aircraft will be used to patrol sanctuary areas in Namibia that have been created to protect elephants and rhinos from poachers and help improve the economic well-being of rural people living adjacent to protected areas.
- READ MORE: We Fly: CubCrafters NXCub
According to ERP, a second airplane will soon be made available, and both will be crated and shipped to Namibia and put into service. In addition to discouraging poachers, the aircraft will be used to monitor endangered species such as desert-adapted elephants and, later, critically endangered black rhinos to be located in a separate area in the southern part of the country.
“The tragic loss of elephants and rhinos to poachers is a daily occurrence in that part of the world,” said Quintin Smith, partner in Group Elephant, a primary benefactor of ERP, and director of the nonprofit. “As a general aviation pilot, I’m delighted about the role these Cubs will play in protecting endangered elephants and rhinos in Africa.”
Smith accepted the NXCub at the Redbird Flight Simulations exhibit during a signing ceremony Tuesday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with Brad Damm, vice president of CubCrafters. Both Redbird and CubCrafters are generous supporters of the Air Wing project.
“When it comes to backcountry airstrips and off-airport landings, few airplanes can match the NXCub,” said Damm. “Having been to Namibia, I know the NXCub’s short takeoff and landing [STOL] capabilities and ability to handle rough surfaces will be well utilized by the rangers who fly these day-in and day-out.”
What better place than AirVenture to start the campaign, noted ERP Air Wing lead Tom Haines.
“ERP’s presence at AirVenture dovetails nicely with EAA’s ‘humanitarian flying’ theme this year,” said Haines, a longtime aviation journalist and aircraft owner. “It’s a privilege to be joined by the likes of Samaritan’s Purse, Air Care Alliance, and other organizations to showcase the great work that aviation can do to help others around the world.”
Pilots who would like to help the ERP with its mission can do so through the “Signature Campaign.” The organization is asking 500 pilots to contribute $1,000 apiece toward the acquisition of the next aircraft. The names of the donors will be placed on the fuselage.
The ERP NXCub is on display at the Redbird exhibit (booth 301) throughout AirVenture, which runs until Sunday, July 27.
“We share ERP’s vision for a world where these magnificent animals can thrive safely and away from human conflict,” said Charlie Gregoire, Redbird CEO. “At Redbird, not only do we make simulators, we’re also pilots and aircraft owners who understand how effective general aviation airplanes can be on missions such as this.”
More information on the Signature Campaign and the Air Wing project can be found here.
