CubCrafters Researches New Aircraft Innovation: Electric Lift Augmenting Slats

Distributed Electric Power Built Into Leading-edge Slats Has Potential To Significantly Reduce Take Off and Landing Distances

YAKIMA, WA, USA, June 7, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — CubCrafters, a leading designer and manufacturer of Light-Sportand Part 23 Certified aircraft, is testing a new engineering innovation, called Electric Lift Augmenting Slats [ELAS], that the company conceived to dramatically increase wing lift.

Recognizing the potentially broad application for this new ELAS technology, NASA awarded CubCrafters two research grants (through the SBIR/STTR program) to partially fund the project.

ELAS, which was granted US Patent 10,926,868, underscores CubCrafters’ four decades of commitment to engineering innovation for the aviation industry. The technology combines electric ducted fans with leading edge lifting slats, to accelerate airflow over the wing of an aircraft. Ongoing testing points to a likelihood for significant reductions in takeoff and landing distances on fixed-wing aircraft with ELAS installed.

By increasing the velocity of the airflow over the top surface of a wing, ELAS lowers the air pressure above the wing, thereby increasing the lift it can generate. The system also allows the wing to achieve better aerodynamic performance at slower speeds and higher angles of attack, reducing the stall speed of the aircraft and improving its slow speed handling characteristics.

ELAS is a practical way to enable fixed-wing aircraft to achieve shorter takeoff distances, steeper approaches, slower landing speeds, and minimal ground roll. By adding leading edge slats with multiple integrated electric ducted fans, ELAS creates high energy airflow through and around the slats — airflow that ultimately boosts lift by a factor of 1.5 to 4.0 depending on the airfoil geometry and flight conditions.

Patrick Horgan, CEO of CubCrafters explains, “With comparatively low acquisition and operational costs, ELAS is a disruptive concept that carries unprecedented benefits, including enabling fixed-wing aircraft to operate outside of designated airports and manage much higher payloads versus comparable eVTOL aircraft — all while enhancing safety.”

The technology can be added to an existing airframe or built into the wings as original equipment, and can be designed as retractable when not in use.

The company notes that ELAS is being rigorously tested in collaboration with CubCrafters’ research institution partner, Oklahoma State University School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering.

“Extensive computer simulations and wind tunnel testing, both at Oklahoma State University and our own facilities, are being used to refine the design in preparation for a comprehensive test flight program using a CubCrafters X-Cub test airplane configured with the ELAS prototype system,” declared Horgan. A short video of recent ELAS preflight testing released by the company can be seen on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/VY2KTmeF6D4

He continued, “As our research and development continues, ELAS may prove to have the ability to dramatically enhance the short field performance capabilities of fixed-wing aircraft in general Aviation as well as Commercial Aviation.”

CubCrafters continues to accept new outside investment. Learn more at:

https://cubcrafters.com/investors

ABOUT CUBCRAFTERS

Founded in 1980 by Jim Richmond, CubCrafters’ roots are in the 80+ year history of classic grassroots aviation, but the company’s products and services are innovative and completely modern. CubCrafters designs and manufactures Experimental, LSA, and Part 23 Certified aircraft. The Carbon Cub family of aircraft redefined expectations for the backcountry flying experience with innovative design, modern materials, powerful engines, and breathtaking

performance. The company’s flagship XCub aircraft is offered in both nosewheel and tailwheel configurations, and substantially expands the mission profile of sport utility aircraft with higher speed, longer range, and larger payload. The key to our success is our ability to create unique value in the experience of personal adventure aviation. Learn more at: https://cubcrafters.com/

ABOUT NASA’S SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs and have significant potential for successful commercialization. Learn more at: https://sbir.nasa.gov/

ABOUT THE OSU SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Oklahoma State University’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering creates impact through a growing research enterprise that engages faculty and students in federally funded, state and industry-based innovation. Learn more at: https://ceat.okstate.edu/mae/

ABOUT THE PUBLIC OFFERING

CubCrafters has been a privately held company for the first 40 years of its existence, but is now welcoming new public investment. Regulation A of Title IV of the JOBS Act allows mature startups and later-stage companies to raise as much as $75M per year from both accredited and non-accredited investors and

provides that their investments will be liquid to the extent that the company raising capital lists its stock on an exchange or other trading forum. CubCrafters is accepting new investment from investors located in states other than Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington via Regulation A+ at the following link: https://www.manhattanstreetcapital.com/cubcrafters

CubCrafters is accepting investments from non-accredited investors in the states of Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington via Regulation CF. More information about investing via Regulation CF is here: https://marketplace.title3funds.com/offers/PreviewOffers/cub-crafters

If you are an accredited investor, you can also invest via our Regulation D private placement offering. To qualify as an accredited investor, you must meet one of the following criteria:

You must have a net worth of over $1 million, excluding your primary residence. This can be either individually or include with a spouse or partner.

You must have an annual income of over $200,000 as an individual, or an annual income of over $300,000 when qualifying with a spouse or partner.

To learn more about making a private placement investment in CubCrafters via Regulation D, or to ask any other questions, please email CubCrafters directly at: [email protected]

IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMER

THE OFFERING MATERIALS WE PROVIDE MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE COMPANY, ITS BUSINESS PLAN AND STRATEGY, AND ITS INDUSTRY. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON THE BELIEFS OF, ASSUMPTIONS MADE BY, AND INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT. WHEN USED IN THE OFFERING MATERIALS, THE WORDS “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “EXPECT” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE STATEMENTS REFLECT MANAGEMENT’S CURRENT VIEWS WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE EVENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. INVESTORS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE ON WHICH THEY ARE MADE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO REVISE OR UPDATE THESE

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER SUCH DATE OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. AN OFFERING STATEMENT REGARDING INVESTING IN CUBCRAFTERS HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC FOR THE REGULATION A OFFERING. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SEC HAS QUALIFIED THE OFFERING STATEMENT, IT ONLY MEANS THAT THE COMPANY MAY MAKE SALES OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THAT STATEMENT. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE SEC HAS APPROVED, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE INVESTMENT, OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE OFFERING STATEMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENTS. YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE REGULATION A OFFERING CIRCULAR, OR ANY OF THE OTHER OFFERING MATERIALS, ON THE SEC WEBSITE OR FROM US AT THE LINKS ABOVE. YOU SHOULD READ ALL APPLICABLE OFFERING MATERIALS BEFORE MAKING ANY

INVESTMENTS.

Brad Damm
CubCrafters
+1 (509) 961-2313
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