I heard there was a thread out on our new "Super-Four" so I thought I better give a first hand report. In a nutshell, I couldn't be more pleased with the plane, it has far exceeded my expectations!! The 1st credit goes to Kirk Ellis, he built it and it was because of my respect for him and his flying that I decided to build one, Kirk is always under spoken but he always told me how much he liked his "Hulk" and how well it worked in his business. In our business, we often get people who just can't get in a standard Cub and we are forced to put them in a 180/185 and of course then we are more limited to where we go, I figured the 4 place would fit in somewhere between the Cessna's and our light Cubs but I was more than pleasantly surprised and I will tell why in a minute.... Second credit goes to Airframes and especially Paul Grey, his workmanship is a work of art, not only did he build the fuselage but also all off the interior, seats etc. and at the same time built a jig so that anyone else can get one just like mine! 3rd credit goes to Paul Weber, he had been my mechanic some years ago and knows that I like/need light aircraft and he did a wonderful job of the wiring keeping is to the bare minimum and very well done!!
Now to flying the Super-Four, We got the plane out to Ultima Thule in Mid May and it has flown almost everyday since then, I can't say enough how happy I am with its performance! It wasn't long until I felt right at home in the plane and the words of Kirk rang in my ear "Its the only plane I want to fly" In the summer we operate 7 supercubs and some of them are among the lightest certified cubs in the state (good performers!) the 4 preforms right in there with the best of them! I was a little worried about the middle stick but within a hour or 2 it is second nature! The visibility is phenomenal, with the big doors and all the glass and also sitting off to the side, it is almost like helicopter visibility, when I get in one of the other cubs, the first thing I notice is how much less I see! Now to the size/room... Wow it is Really Big!! We measured 2" wider at the shoulders than our 185 and about 6" longer to the end of the baggage so it will really pack the stuff!! Also being able to put a person up front with the pilot, the CG is better and with 2 pax I actually think it preforms as good as a light cub with equal load. I put the big passenger in the back and it is very easy to load older (stiff) people in the back, they just back up to the door and sit down, then they have all the room in the back....
Being it is a certified aircraft, I had to stay with the standard Keller flaps, If the bigger flaps get approved, I will probably try them.... Light is always right and I thought I might pull the starter out and try that but the wide fuselage is not so compatible to hand propping and since the performance is already great and I'm getting older, the starter stays, I suppose carbon fiber floorboards might have saved some, we opted for aluminum for it's ruggedness, at 1249# on 35s it would be hard to get much lighter but it sure would be fun to try :smile:, If could only have one cub it would certainly be the Super-Four!!