High-Tech Sport Cub? Yes, Precisely.

bydanjohnson

Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 03:16 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

LSA Cub aircraft, including models from American Legend, Zlin Savage, and CubCrafters, have achieved significant market success, with Legend and CubCrafters ranking in the top ten LSA registrations and collectively accounting for one in six US Light-Sport Aircraft.
These three brands offer distinct options: the Zlin Savage is noted for its low $60,000 price and Rotax 912 engine, American Legend provides various engine choices, while the CubCrafters Sport Cub is the most deluxe (over $100,000, Continental-powered) and engineered for lightness to meet ASTM standards.

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Sport Cub makes use of carbon fiber components and careful design to hold its weight down to 825-860 pounds depending on options chosen. In ASTM standards, a minimum useful load is specified, so no 2-seat SLSA with 100 horsepower may have an empty weight greater than 890 pounds. Read my pilot report in the July 2007 *Sport Pilot*.

I admit to being somewhat surprised at the success of the LSA Cubs. We have no less than three brands with SLSA approval: American Legend, Zlin Savage, and CubCrafters. Two of these (Legend and CubCrafters) are in the top ten of Light-Sport registrations and account for an astounding one in six LSA in the USA (by itself Legend represents about one in eight). Despite a tendency to lump them together, they are distinctly different offerings. The Zlin Savage is the only one using a Rotax 912 engine and it is still selling for the remarkably low price of $60,000. Legend is…well, already a legend and can be powered by Contentinal or Jabiru. Though CubCrafters earned certification later — despite being a Part 23 production facility — the Continental-powered Sport Cub is the most deluxe of the trio, and is priced to match (more than $100,000 with options). But the Washington state company worked hard to keep their airplane lighter, to be sure it qualifies with ASTM standards.