Carbon Cub Lands on Heli Pad in Dubai

[SJ]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — (3/14/22) — CubCrafters, in collaboration with Red Bull and extreme sports promotor XDubai, has achieved an unprecedented milestone in aviation by successfully landing a fixed wing Carbon Cub aircraft on the heliport of one of the world's most iconic buildings, the Burj Al Arab hotel, in Dubai, UAE.
The Bulls Eye landing event featured Red Bull Air Race pilot and Carbon Cub owner Luke Czepiela landing a specially modified version of CubCrafters bestselling aircraft on a 27-meter wide helipad suspended 212 meters above sea level atop the 56-story hotel.

“All big moments start with little ideas powered by imagination and the desire to create something special,” stated Patrick Horgan, CubCrafters’ President & CEO. “Red Bull has done many projects over the years that have inspired aviators worldwide, so we were honored to join them on this project to demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the kinds of aircraft our company designs and manufactures."

As Michał Graczyk, Aviation Project Manager for the event explained, “To ensure success, we wanted the airplane best suited to the challenge, and CubCrafters was the obvious choice. They have a long history of innovation and industry leadership, relentless research and development, and an impeccable reputation for the quality of their aircraft. These attributes made us very confident in choosing them as our partner for this event.”

“Throughout the years, CubCrafters’ brand has grown to be synonymous with an adventure lifestyle, and giving pilots the ability to land our airplanes in the most challenging environments is core to our mission,” said Brad Damm, CubCrafters’ Vice President. “This project, two years in the planning and execution, really pushes the limits of what a best-of-class STOL aircraft, and an extremely capable and dedicated pilot, can achieve.”

Renowned bush pilot, aviation engineer, and YouTube personality, Mike Patey, also joined the CubCrafters technical team for the project. Mike, a Carbon Cub owner himself, customized some of the aircraft's features to help ensure a successful outcome. "It was a pretty simple formula. We cut weight, changed the C.G. to increase the effectiveness of the brakes, and added extra horsepower,” said Mike. "I'm really proud of how the airplane performed. The Carbon Cub was a great choice to start with, and we made it even better for this event."

“Working with CubCrafters and Mike Patey to prepare the airplane for this event has been a true pleasure,” declared pilot Luke Czepiela. “During the training and preparation, I developed full confidence in the aircraft and its unique capabilities that enabled me to successfully accomplish this mission.”

Full details about the project, the aircraft, and the team that pulled it off can be found at:
https://cubcrafters.com/redbull

[SJ]

Be sure to go to the link and check out the video… fun!

[gpepperd]

Very cool but nothing a Mackey SQ-12 couldn’t do.

[stewartb]

Very cool but nothing a Mackey SQ-12 couldn’t do.

With a dead caribou in back!

[cubdriver2]

This guy could have done it 85 years ago if we had heliports back then

https://youtu.be/VDcB0pSUYOI

This guy 8 years ago also

https://youtu.be/fve99Vx8XxM

[Olibuilt]

Incredible! That first try was terrifying! He almost crashed!!

Bushwheel tire and Acme shock helped to save the day..

[Bearhawk Builder]

All three times the left wing dipped. Wing tip must have been close, imagine spinning off the top of the building sideways !

[tempdoug]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CI0m6rPFCqA

[frequent_flyer]

Long and rather tedious video provides some detail the modifications -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xac...nnel=MikePatey

Some of the changes -
Relocated fuel tank moved fuel mass low and aft
Huge custom prop
Special tires saved 8 lb
Titanium gear and custom build shocks
Tail bumper to protect structure from a tail strike on the edge of the platform
Nitrous system to help with the takeoff

[DENNY]

On that one wheel landing he had a lot more crosswind (look at the sock) with that solid wall of the building it would give you a pretty big ridge lift to pick up that wing as the wind came up the building. It laid down some for the final shot. Great job of dumping the flaps to hit his spot and sticking the mains.
DENNY

[stewartb]

My fav. No press on hand so I guess its not an “event?”

https://fb.watch/jgp-2-fO4S/?mibextid=v7YzmG

[frequent_flyer]

Short landings are easy if the wind speed is close to approach speed. The helipad landing had to be attempted with light wind to avoid tubulence from the building. Not something I would have attempted. If it went bad it could have gone really bad. Red Bull seems to encourage extreme risk takers. All good fun until someone gets a stick in their eye.

[GreggB]

Love them or hate them doesn't matter when Redbull starts playing your game the level of play is going way up. Yes being on the Redbull air force is a dangerous job but these guys would be doing a dangerous job without the Redbull gig.

[behindpropellers]

Chris Nesin could do that in a stock J-3.

[ak49flyer]

Why exactly are we acting like this is a big deal??

[GreggB]

Why exactly are we acting like this is a big deal??

It is a cool stunt. No one here could do it. You aren't getting a cub to Dubai, permission, and a good film crew unless you are Redbull. You can celebrate with Redbull or hate on them but if they keep playing the stol game they will excel at it.

[Olibuilt]

Why exactly are we acting like this is a big deal??

A Patey Nitrous boosted sponsored Carbon Cub landing on a Dubai 80 foot long skyscraper top helipad is not a "big deal" for you?

[stewartb]

There are two nitrous boosted Carbon Cubs on my home field. The only thing new is the attention this created, and given it’s an advertising stunt, they’re clearly good at their jobs.

[ak49flyer]

Exactly. I’m not hating on RedBull at all. I’m just a grumpy old mechanic who’s weary of hearing about anything with “Patey” or “Carbon” in it.

[cgibber]

Now THAT is interesting.

My fav. No press on hand so I guess its not an “event?”

https://fb.watch/jgp-2-fO4S/?mibextid=v7YzmG

[ak49flyer]

Someone just showed me the video- I’m totally calling the first two “attempts” staged.

[Olibuilt]

Exactly. I’m not hating on RedBull at all. I’m just a grumpy old mechanic who’s weary of hearing about anything with “Patey” or “Carbon” in it.

Hahahha! I respect old grumpy mechanics and I don't drink RedBull.. But you can't denie this accomplishment. Those guys make the "big deal" happen...

Someone just showed me the video- I’m totally calling the first two “attempts” staged.

First attempt looked like an almost disaster. I'm actually surprised they show part of it in the video.

[ak49flyer]

A Patey Nitrous boosted sponsored Carbon Cub landing on a Dubai 80 foot long skyscraper top helipad is not a "big deal" for you?

No. CC’s have been taking off and landing sub-80 feet for years. So it was a few hundred feet above sea level…? Cool…

[ak49flyer]

First attempt looked like an almost disaster. I'm actually surprised they show part of it in the video.

It’s called “building suspense” No way that wasn’t on purpose. The approach on the actual landing was totally different. With the amount of practice that went into this, no chance that guy wouldn’t have gone around long before he touched down on that first one.

[Olibuilt]

It’s called “building suspense” No way that wasn’t on purpose.

Droping his left wing that hard on purpose on top of this building???? Suspension could have failed or worse...




But my friend with his J3 says you must be right..... hahahah!!!

[Steve Pierce]

Two friends of mine went over and assembled the airplane. They had a blast. I would have loved to been in on that. The red tape was thick.

[Bearhawk Builder]

Why didn't I start a sugar drink company instead of building airplanes??

[frequent_flyer]

The un-prepared helipad appears to be surrounded by a low level railing. Some early video showed the gap between the helipad and the rail covered with un-painted plywood. Later video shows this ramp painted so it appears to be part of the pad.

In the video showing practice landings on a painted circle there was a line about 1/3 of the way into the circle which I'm assuming was the target for mains touchdown and intended to prevent tail strike on the edge of the platform.

In the video of the successful landing it appears to me that that the mains contact and run down the plywood ramp and the tail is well over the edge. Perfectly executed or very lucky?

[courierguy]

It’s called “building suspense” No way that wasn’t on purpose. The approach on the actual landing was totally different. With the amount of practice that went into this, no chance that guy wouldn’t have gone around long before he touched down on that first one.

You trying to be punny? Yeah, the short length wasn't the big deal for a lot of us, but the penalty for landing a tad short on that building's ramp was pretty severe. The takeoff was a given, not much suspense there. A pretty cool stunt all in all, with some good showmanship.

[mam90]

I don’t get it. Except right after it happened I got an email from them asking me to buy their stock.

[aktango58]

I would have loved to been in on that. The red tape was thick.

And that is why it is such a big deal!!

Most of us would have loved to do this just to say we were part of it.

The unsung heroes are the folks that spent hours, weeks, months or years getting permission to make all of this happen. Just look at the red tape to make any fly-in or STOL contest happen, now you want to include a private hotel in a Middle East Country?

I agree that there are quite a few here, and planes around, that could make that landing with proper conditions. But how many here have the patients and dollars to spend to actually make it happen?

My hat is off to all that were part! I wonder what is next?

[frequent_flyer]

In the video of the successful landing it appears to me that that the mains contact and run down the plywood ramp and the tail is well over the edge. Perfectly executed or very lucky?

Better camera angles in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXmG...nnel=MikePatey

It seems the planned mains contact was between the ramp and the white circle and that's where it did touch.

[Rob]

Why exactly are we acting like this is a big deal??

The 'Big Deal' is not for us.

Gulkana made operations in this size a big deal for Alaskan's and a few privy cub guys.

Valdez made the same for most cub guys and a few privy 'other' airplane guys.

Valdez guys and other STOL guys taking it to Osh Kosh made it so for most all 'airplane' people.

Redbull, takes the audience captured to a new level.

The only 'big deal' in this offering for the rest of us (and this is fairly substantial) is as FF posted, coming up short in a typical STOL event, simply means a DQ, coming up short on a gravel bar usually means enlisting a few friends to drag it home (or the insurance co), this really needed to be a 'Spot Landing' and coming up short would have triggered sensationalism on an equally global level, never the less, I guess most folks on this forum really don't need to think too hard to lose count of the people that could have done that in their own airplanes.

My only question (or reaction) is, will 'the next level' of attention on STOL ops be a good thing or a detriment?

Take care, Rob

[DENNY]

I would call it perfectly executed. They added a strike plate to the belly in case the tail hit the rim. Even if he ripped the tailwheel off he could get back down with little problem. By dumping the flaps and keeping the tailwheel up a bit he allowed the tires to stay planted and help with breaking. He did not even need to ground loop at the end. The reason no one posts videos of Knik landings with no wind is because they don't look this good!! Yeah, I said it!! Excellent job.
DENNY

[Scott A]

Cool stunt, fun, brings awareness to flying.

[farm_boy252]

Someone just showed me the video- I’m totally calling the first two “attempts” staged.

I have to respectfully disagree on the bounced one....the look in his eyes and the f bomb seemed pretty genuine. And who knows, maybe he attempted 10 times and they only showed us 2 before the successful one? the high overshoot one could have been planned just to get a look/feel of the approach.

[Paul Heinrich]

Pure, unadulterated Sports-washing! Don’t be fooled.

The tape is colored red with the blood of human rights violations in the Middle East - easier cut when it makes murderous, repressive regimes look progressive, modern, and civilized.

But, what do I know.

[ak49flyer]

I have to respectfully disagree on the bounced one....the look in his eyes and the f bomb seemed pretty genuine. And who knows, maybe he attempted 10 times and they only showed us 2 before the successful one? the high overshoot one could have been planned just to get a look/feel of the approach.

Funny- the acting he did there made it seem even more fake to me- seemed like a Trevor Jacob moment from my perspective, but what do I know…

[Eddie Foy]

Very cool but nothing a Mackey SQ-12 couldn’t do.

But if you miss the touchdown point, you die!! That pilot has extreme confidence in his ability and brass balls!

[tempdoug]

But if you miss the touchdown point, you die!! That pilot has extreme confidence in his ability and brass balls!

why is that? you dont want to be short, but long, hit the throttle and push the stick ahead.