Cubcrafters John Whitish smiled as he looked out from his booth (N-092,093) at the clearing skies on the first afternoon of Sun ’n‘ Fun 2019. Was it the weather or the excellent stable of airplanes, both experimental and certified that he was smiling at? “Both,” he said. As the skies cleared attendees at the show began clustering around the amphib (a kit-built FX-3) and certified XCub in front of the pavilion. It was time for Whitish to get to work.

Cubcrafters is living up to its promise from last year to increase its production of Part 23 certified airplanes such as its Lycoming 0-360 180 hp, two-place XCub. The XCub is known for speed, pushing 145 mph at 75 percent power with a useful load of 1084 pounds, and doing so safely with heavily redesigned G-series ailerons, push-rod controls, flying struts, a radically flared cowling, and clean spring steel landing gear. Inside the modern panel holds a Garmin 3X Touch and the seating and accoutrements are all about comfort.

“We are expecting to produce about 25 more XCubs in 2019,” Whitish told AIN at the show, which is about a 20 percent increase from last year. Those interested in E-LSA or amateur-built kits can order the XCub’s littermates, the SX, the FX-3, and the EX Cubs.