7 June 2026
Remember that crazy Red Bull sponsored landing on Dubai’s Hotel Jumeirah Burj Al Arab by pilot Luke Czepiela. Luke landed on the hotel’s helipad in March 2023 flying a modified CubCrafters Carbon Cub.
Well, Luke has put his experience with the aircraft to good use, coming up with a software upgrade for the CubCrafters’ Rotax 916 iS-powered aircraft. It promises improved acceleration, climb performance, cruise speed and energy management without any hardware modifications.
Developed in partnership with RS Flight Systems, the FADEC software update is designed to optimise engine performance across the flight envelope while retaining the Rotax engine’s standard architecture – and, importantly, retains the Rotax engine warranty.
According to CubCrafters, pilots can expect quicker acceleration during take-off and go-arounds, stronger climb performance, higher cruise speeds and improved deceleration characteristics. The company says the upgrade has been tested on aircraft fitted with both Hartzell and MT propellers.
“The goal wasn’t simply to increase performance on paper,” said Czepiela. “We wanted to make the aircraft feel more responsive and enjoyable to fly.”
The upgrade is available immediately for eligible CubCrafters aircraft equipped with the Rotax 916 iS engine and is priced at $1,500 (£1,100).
