CubCrafters was founded in 1980 by current owner and Chairman Jim Richmond. An A&P, Jim visited Alaska - bush pilot heaven - that year, gathering as much information as he could about Super Cub modifications and applications. When he returned to Washington State, he decided to get into Super Cub rebuilding full time. He sold his home insulation business and rebuilt five L-21's (Italian versions of the Super Cub.) During this time Jim also started the "Super Cub Newsletter", constantly gathering information on modifications and STC's, and refining the rebuilding process.

The "old" Piper Aircraft stopped production of the venerable PA-18 Super Cub during the late 80s/early 90s, and over the years CubCrafters has refined and improved its rebuilding and modification process to the point where it was literally building new airplanes, though much improved and updated from Piper’s aircraft. In 1998, CubCrafters formally started building new airplanes under the "Spare and Surplus Rule" outlined then in the FAR’s.

But legislative concerns in 2003 made CubCrafters pursue their own type certificate, and after complying with the rigorous specifications of the most updated FAR 23 rules, the TOP CUB was officially born in late 2004. Since then, CubCrafters has grown from a small Super Cub rebuilding shop to a state-of-the art aircraft manufacturer occupying a 40,000 square-foot facility on the northeastern side of Yakima's McAllister Field Airport.

We currently continue our Super Cub rebuilding and parts businesses under the banner of CubCrafters Services, as well as produce all new TOP CUBS and the light sport category SPORT CUB.

For a more detailed company history, click here for two excellent articles published in Northern Pilot and Pilot Getaways.

Early CubCrafters promotional video