CubCrafters
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Jim Richmond |
| Headquarters | Yakima , United States |
| Products | Aircraft, aircraft parts, STC upgrades |
Cub Crafters, Inc. (branded as CubCrafters) is an aircraft manufacturer based in Yakima, Washington.
History
Established in 1980 by Jim Richmond, CubCrafters began its operations focusing on parts and supplementary type certificate (STC) upgrades specifically for the Piper PA-18 Super Cub. The company's premier product, the CC18-180 Top Cub, earned certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in December 2004 and continued to be produced through at least 2017.
In July 2008, the CC18-180 Top Cub obtained a type certificate (TC) from Transport Canada and also received certification in Australia within the same year. CubCrafters transferred ownership of the CC18 type certificate to Liaoning Cub Aircraft Corporation of China in July 2015, while maintaining manufacturing rights for markets outside China. Liaoning intends to utilize this aircraft model for applications including flight instruction, aerial survey, mapping, agricultural tasks, and private use.
The company’s lineup also features the light-sport aircraft CC11-100 Sport Cub, which draws inspiration from the Piper J-3 Cub design. Their Carbon Cub series integrates carbon fiber materials to reduce overall weight and enhance payload capabilities.
CubCrafters maintains a dedicated service and overhaul center that supports PA-18 Super Cubs along with related aircraft variants.
In June 2016, the company introduced the XCub, a newly type-certified model developed over six years, marking an expansion of its general aviation offerings.
To fuel further expansion, CubCrafters announced a Regulation A capital raise initiative in July 2022, offering preferred shares at US$5 each aimed at customers and aviation aficionados. By November 2022, it achieved Securities and Exchange Commission approval for a public IPO targeting US$50 million.
Continuing its global growth strategy, CubCrafters acquired Summit Aircraft Skis, headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, in December 2022.
On February 4, 2025, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University selected the certified NX Cub as the official aircraft for its Golden Eagles Flight Team, underscoring CubCrafters' influence within aviation education.
Aircraft
- CC18 Top Cub
- CC18-180 Top Cub Certified variant
- CC11-100 Sport Cub
- CC11-160 Carbon Cub SS
- CCX-1865 Carbon Cub FX
- CCK-1865 Carbon Cub FX Homebuilt version of the CCX-1865
- CCX-2000 Carbon Cub FX
- CCK-2000 Carbon Cub EX Homebuilt version of the CCX-2000
- CC19-180 XCub
- CC19-180 NXCub Tricycle gear variant of the CC19-180 XCub
- CCX-2300 Updated designation for the NXCub
- Carbon Cub UL, introduced in 2023 with a Rotax 916 iS engine