Question FX3 vs XCub cowling and advice

[akkpao]

Hi everyone and thank you Neal for all your wonderful educational FX3 content. I am primarily flying 182s and SR22s these days as part of a flying club but am considering a move into ownership with an FX3 or XCub (with occassional access to the other aircraft for longer trips).

I'm wondering if others on this forum might have been choosing between the FX3 and XCub and any pros/cons you all might have thought through.

I'm also curious if anyone happens to know the dimensions / shape of the cowling on the FX3 and the XCub. The FX3 seems to me to look sleeker than the 393 powered XCub and I am wondering if that is because the XCub's cowling is bigger/rounder or just artifacts in the images I'm looking at?

Thank you in advance for any guidance!

 

[Neal]

Welcome to the forum @akkpao - I'm no expert or salesman/dealer but I'll just share my thoughts and I'm sure there will be multiple posts from others and probably more from me as I have more time.

First, price. To some, it doesn't matter, I get it, I'm not in that boat. The xcub is their top of the line fit and finish, it's the fastest and most aerodynamic. I believe it also has the highest usable load. Yes, the cowl is bigger for cooling I'm sure. But the prop needs to be considered in the end for your needs. The NX comes with a smaller 76" prop whereas the tailwheel configuration I believe can have up to an 83" prop.

I chose the FX-3 as I wanted the newer flight controls (G series), stick grip, the blend between cross country flying and back country flying. I wanted the fuel injection and constant speed prop. It was the perfect blend for me. I'm in Virginia, far from an ideal place for a backcountry airplane. But the stick and throttle concept like my former life got me interested in GA again as I just couldn't do a Cessna type..yoke, etc.

I'm sure I have the heaviest FX-3 ever built with cargo pod, BRS, and all of my spares I carry And there is no place I can't go for my skill level that this plane can't handle...or desire for that matter.

The UL is obviously the hot thing, doesn't appeal to me for a number of reasons.

It's going to come down to what do you want to use the airplane for? Are you going to fly it? So many cubs from CubCrafters seem to hit resale in the low to mid 100 hour point which I just don't get. Are you going to be comfortable with a 600K xcub in the backcountry? All of the CubCrafters' cubs are stupid expensive. I really enjoyed the Sport Cub (predecessor to the SS) that I did my TW endorsement in. Something far cheaper and less complex probably would bring me more joy in the end. I enjoy the Garmin glass panel as you are familiar with but it's never ending something somewhere going on. I tell friends, if I did it again I'd get the best J3 money could buy.

I've enjoyed the learning which I've shared my journey. I have a passion for learning. But not having any real CubCrafters expertise in my area for maintenance or repairs is a concern should I need help someday. We do have Don Wade of Patriot Aircraft in AL that is great with CubCrafters planes so if I needed help I'd go to him. Most "service centers" are simply "someone that's worked on a cub before" which I went to for my first condition inspection and never went back, that was eye opening. So be prepared, depending on your location, to have to learn to do things yourself, which isn't bad. I do know of a good service center in KY but it's a bit far, Johnson Aviation - he's outstanding from what I hear.

I think the FX-3 is one of their most popular but obviously from a money making dealer point of view, they're going to push what brings them the most money, that will be the XCub. Follow the money, do your research, make YOUR choices. I was pushed onto things that I later learned simply brought more money but I was firm in what I wanted, researched, and made my plane exactly as I wanted it.

That's it for now...I look forward in following your journey and feel free to post anything here and we'll gladly assist. Oh...be sure to get the IFR panel which I'm sure you will. I'm seeing VFR paneled planes really struggling in resale.

 

[Neal]

Something that can’t go without discussing is insurance on these planes. You may want to ask a broker for rates but I’d expect your first year to be around $8k or more. People are getting these stupid expensive cubs with minimal training and recking them in no time.

 

[Neal]

More to add (I told you this would be multiple posts ) -- if I did it over again at CubCrafters I would buy another FX-3.

Regardless of the plane choice, CubCrafters is very good about customizations allowing you to make it what you want. You just have to do your research and know what to ask for when ready. Same with paint, get a design done and they'll likely do it.

 

[Cactus Charlie]

I'm wondering if others on this forum might have been choosing between the FX3 and XCub and any pros/cons you all might have thought through.

I was attracted to the XCub because of the aileron control system. It uses push/pull rods instead of cables. Price and weight took me back to the FX-3. Also, at the time I made the purchase decision, there was no factory assist build program for the XCub. I had to have experimental and be eligible for a repairman certificate.

The FX-3 is one of the noisiest aircraft I have flown but the Husky is close. XCub has a bit less sparse interior and may be quieter.

XCub originally only had the spring aluminum gear but I believe 3x3 gear can now be specified for factor assist build.

Early XCub did not use the 390 engine so, if considering used, make sure you know what you are buying.

Just a few random thoughts. I was never close to buying an XCub.

 

[Neal]

The FX-3 is one of the noisiest aircraft I have flown but the Husky is close. XCub has a bit less sparse interior and may be quieter.

I have a friend with a new xcub with the 393 and one of his comments was how loud it was. He previously owned a FX-3.

As I've flown with my dog and her ear muffs came off, I did a dB test with my Apple watch and was surprised how loud it was. I took my bose headphones off and wow, yeah, extremely loud so I air aborted due to the dog's ear muffs coming off and the loudness.