Question FX3 vs XCub cowling and advice

[akkpao]

I think the fit & finish of Jim Richmond's cub interior is unrivaled. I'm not overly thrilled with what I see with Trent Palmer's Legend Nomad comparatively, and others.

I'd love to learn more about that if you're open to expanding. I haven't been able to get a look at a real life Legend Nomad yet so my comparison is limited.

 

[Neal]

I'd love to learn more about that if you're open to expanding. I haven't been able to get a look at a real life Legend Nomad yet so my comparison is limited.

Just compare the interior, panels, seats, stick, throttle, pedals, etc. Just keep this in your crosscheck when comparing and deciding.

 

[Neal]

I'll add another thing I'd like to see from CubCrafters and that's the move to vertical power. There are breakers littered everywhere in the cockpit. In the Air Force aircraft and most others I've seen breakers are centralized. A panel between the knees would be ideal and I have recommended this to CubCrafters. I have breakers below the seat on the front side for ignition, upper left wing root, upper right wing root, and at nearly all open spaces on my panel. It's a mess and not ideal for human factors.

 

[lrobichaux]

I did not consider buying used because I would not have qualified for a Repairman Certificate. I also wanted the experience of the factory assist build program.

Didn't this change recently with MOSAIC? I seem to recall that under MOSAIC, non-builders can now get a Repairman Certificate for EAB light sport aircraft (which all these CC aircraft now qualify). Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.

@akkpao if you are a member of COPA, there is a terrific current thread discussing Cirrus pilots' ownership experience of various of the CubCrafters offerings.

 

[Cactus Charlie]

Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.

I think you are correct but it does require a training course. Previously it did not. I can't see that MOSAIC offers me any advantages.

 

[akkpao]

Didn't this change recently with MOSAIC? I seem to recall that under MOSAIC, non-builders can now get a Repairman Certificate for EAB light sport aircraft (which all these CC aircraft now qualify). Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.

@akkpao if you are a member of COPA, there is a terrific current thread discussing Cirrus pilots' ownership experience of various of the CubCrafters offerings.

Thank you for this heads up. Very informative thread indeed on COPA.

 

[Cubonaut875]

I agree also, the Legend looks more "homebuilt in fit and finish, Cubcrafters Factory assembled has a more factory look.

 

[Cubonaut875]

Excellent points @Cubonaut875 as I forgot when the UL was coming into play it was focused on the foreign market where 100LL is not an option and also with the 100LL issues in California and wherever else which has since reversed course. I think the Trent Palmer and Kitfox audience has certainly brought light to Rotax and now his Legend Nomad which sure looks impressive. One of my concerns with the CubCrafters aircraft as was pointed out in one of Trent's videos is the smaller tail design. I think Kevin Quinn may have had his cub build customized for a larger tail I seem to recall. Not sure, really not well versed on the "super cub" designs and history. Those of us in the FX-3 are well aware of the lack of elevator authority at landing overcome by a little power.

There may be a method to the madness of FX/EX3 elevator authority or lack there of. I'm far from an aeronautical engineer, indeed I'm a clueless Biology major, however that lack of authority may be why the FX3 does not really break in a power off stall also in an aggressive slip if you pull back you don't fully stall and spin out of the sky. Could also be the reason why there are no VG's on the underside of the horizontal stab. I would guess adding VG's to the underside of the stab would give you that last little bit of authority. But I'm just guessing

 

[Cactus Charlie]

Would anyone who thinks the FX-3 lacks elevator authority please say the CG position at which this lack of authority was experienced.

My solo flight CG varies between 74.0 and 75.5 depending on fuel load. I have no problem with lack of elevator authority including 3 point landings with idle power.

 

[akkpao]

I agree also, the Legend looks more "homebuilt in fit and finish, Cubcrafters Factory assembled has a more factory look.

I haven't had a chance to see one in person yet, so it's interesting that this does seem to be the consensus opinion. I watched Trent Palmer's video & review of his and couldn't make out an obvious fit and finish difference visually. But I'm sure it's very different in the flesh.