CubCrafters is in the final phases of flight testing the CC363i F/P, a new lightweight engine for the Carbon Cub. The new engine is a fixed pitch version of the larger displacement 186 HP fuel injected constant speed prop engine first introduced by CubCrafters in 2017.
This new engine offers several advantages over the CC340, the lightweight 180 HP engine developed by CubCrafters in 2009. It is fuel injected instead of carbureted, which allows for simpler operation overall and eliminates the safety concern of carburetor ice during low power operations. In addition, the fuel injection allows more of the waste heat from the engine to be directed to the aircraft’s cabin during cold weather operations.
Another advantage is that the new higher displacement lower compression ratio engine develops almost 5% more horsepower than the CC340, while also being able to use a wider range of fuels. The company expects that the new engine will be better able to tolerate Autogas and the next generation of aviation fuels than similar higher compression ratio engines.
“It is exciting to be able to introduce this new engine to our customers,” said Brad Damm, CubCrafters vice president of sales and marketing.
He flew the first CC363i F/P equipped Carbon Cub from the company’s base in Washington State to EAA’s AirVenture trade show in Wisconsin several weeks ago.
“This is an engine our customers have been specifically asking for, especially our kit aircraft customers,” he said. “It’s simple to operate and has better overall performance than any of the other fixed pitch engines we offer. It’s smoother, more fuel efficient, and it cools better. Customers who choose this new engine are going to be pleased for sure.”
In addition to the typical fixed pitch wood/composite propellers previously offered with the CC340, the new engine can optionally be fitted with newer ground adjustable propellers, such that pilots can quickly optimize the aircraft for climb or cruise missions without having to change to a completely different propeller. When equipped with the same propeller, the installed weight of the new CC363i F/P engine is only 7 lbs. heavier than the CC340.
Developed as part of a long-standing collaboration between CubCrafters and Lycoming, the new CC363i F/P engine is only available from CubCrafters and offered exclusively on the E/A-B Carbon Cub series of aircraft including the EX-2, EX-3, FX-2, and FX-3. The original Light Sport Carbon Cub remains powered by the ASTM-certified CC340.
New engines should begin shipping to customers as soon as early October. Existing kit aircraft customers with a CC340 currently on order will be prioritized to upgrade to the new engine if they wish.
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