CubCrafters has formally announced the Carbon Cub ULT turboprop, a turbine-powered derivative of its Carbon Cub UL that swaps the Rotax piston engine for a TurboTech TP-R90 regenerative turboprop, positioning the aircraft squarely at the FAA’s incoming MOSAIC light-sport regulatory framework.
The announcement was made on 7 July 2026, ahead of a planned public debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this month. CubCrafters is already accepting customer deposits, with first deliveries expected in 2027.
A turbine built for sport-pilot operations
CubCrafters describes the Carbon Cub ULT turboprop as the first US-manufactured turboprop aircraft eligible to be flown by sport pilots under the FAA’s new MOSAIC regulations, which expand light-sport rules to permit new propulsion types including turbine engines. The aircraft is offered with Light Sport and Experimental Amateur-Built factory builder-assist certification options.
The pitch is not speed or raw power but a different operating character: turbine smoothness, Jet-A and diesel fuel capability, push-button start and single-lever FADEC engine control, while keeping performance figures close to the Rotax-powered Carbon Cub UL. CubCrafters lists both aircraft at more than 113 kt cruise speed, a 28 kt stall speed, 50 ft takeoff distance and 90 ft landing distance under its comparison configuration. The company notes that all performance figures assume optimal conditions and that actual numbers will vary.
Published weight and range figures for the ULT include an estimated empty weight of 880 lb, a maximum gross weight of 1,865 lb and an estimated useful load of 985 lb. The aircraft carries 44 gallons of fuel, giving an estimated endurance of 5.2 hours and a range of 682 statute miles (approximately 593 nm). Wingspan is 34 ft 3 in, wing area 179 sq ft, and seating is for two. Base price is listed as TBD; by comparison, the Rotax-powered Carbon Cub UL starts at $293,900.
The TurboTech TP-R90 and its regenerative cycle
The engine at the centre of the ULT programme is the TurboTech TP-R90, supplied by a French aerospace company founded by former Safran engineers. Safran and GO Capital announced an investment in TurboTech in 2018. The TP-R90 uses a regenerative cycle: heat recovered from the exhaust is used to preheat intake air before combustion, improving efficiency and bringing fuel consumption closer to a modern piston engine while retaining turbine characteristics.
CubCrafters identifies the powerplant as the TurboTech TP-R90 / R150, listing a power rating of 160 hp with what it describes as “turbine + electric boost.” TurboTech’s current TP-R150 data, as cited in the aircraft’s specification material, lists a maximum output of 141 hp, an eco-cruise fuel burn of about 5.0 gal/h at 50% power, a fully equipped weight of about 190 lb and a 3,000-hour time between overhauls. According to AOPA, TurboTech has also developed an 85-kilowatt (109-horsepower) hybrid engine with the R90 turboprop at its core, underscoring the company’s parallel work on hybrid propulsion alongside the turboprop line.
The engine is not untested. TurboTech engines have been flying in European ultralight aircraft built by Bristell, JMB and GoGetAir, as well as in two helicopters. CubCrafters is, however, the company’s launch partner in the United States, according to TurboTech CEO Damien Fauvet.
‘CubCrafters has an exceptional reputation for innovation and engineering excellence in backcountry aviation, and the Carbon Cub ULT is an ideal platform to demonstrate the capabilities of the TP-R90 engine,’ Fauvet said.
FADEC controls and prototype avionics
The FADEC system automatically manages fuel flow, ignition, engine temperatures and propeller operation. CubCrafters says pilots start the aircraft by turning on the master switch and pressing the start button, with the FADEC handling the full start sequence to reduce pilot workload. The prototype cockpit shown by the company features Garmin G3X Touch avionics alongside a dedicated turbine engine display for the TurboTech installation.
Patrick Horgan, CubCrafters President and CEO, framed the programme as a step up in engineering complexity for the company. ‘The Carbon Cub ULT represents some of the most advanced engineering work ever undertaken at CubCrafters,’ Horgan said. ‘Bringing together regenerative turbine technology, full FADEC controls, lightweight composite construction, and our proven STOL capability into a practical backcountry aircraft demanded an incredible amount of focused innovation and refinement from our team.’
Flight testing is under way near CubCrafters’ headquarters in Yakima, Washington. The company plans to display the Carbon Cub ULT turboprop at booths 272-274 during EAA AirVenture 2026.
