Flying the NEW Turbo Carbon Cub 'UL' In Idaho!

Cleetus2 McFarland

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The video opens with the host meeting CubCrafters’ engineering team in McCall, Idaho to fly the brand-new Turbo Carbon Cub UL, an ultralight version of the company’s legendary STOL bush plane. Viewers get a walk-around that highlights how CubCrafters shaved empty weight to meet the 600-kg European microlight limit: extensive carbon-fiber structures, titanium firewall, lighter seats and interior panels, plus the new turbocharged Rotax 916 iS engine. The 160-hp powerplant not only adds power at high-density-altitude strips, it also sips Mogas and Jet-A at cruise, giving backcountry pilots longer range without extra fuel weight.

After a short-field departure from McCall, the video dives into real-world mountain flying. The pilot demonstrates aggressive, yet controlled, 35-knot indicated approach speeds and impressively short ground rolls while hopping between classic Idaho backcountry strips like Mahoney, Cabin Creek and Mile-High. Climb performance is showcased at 2,000–2,300 fpm even at 8,000-foot density altitude, underscoring why CubCrafters chose the turbo Rotax for this airframe. Cockpit footage reveals minimal vibration, quieter cabin noise compared with the legacy CC340, and fuel flows hovering around 6.5 gph in cruise, dropping to 4 gph in economy lean mode.

Mid-flight commentary covers handling: lighter stick forces, crisp aileron response, and a noticeable CG shift that makes slow-flight stability excellent for pilot training. The host notes easier hot-starts and plug-and-play FADEC engine management—no mixture, no carb heat, just a single power lever. The team also points out that the UL still accepts tundra tires, amphibious floats and a BRS parachute without busting the 600-kg limit, thanks to the airframe diet.

Wrapping up, CubCrafters confirms ASTM certification is underway for U.S. Light Sport compliance, with EASA and CASA validations to follow. Expected price is in the mid-$300K range, with production slots already filling. The video closes on a golden-hour strip takeoff, hammering home the Turbo Carbon Cub UL’s pitch: big-horsepower, fuel-efficient, two-place adventure flying that opens virtually any high-country runway while staying within ultralight or LSA regulations.

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