The XCub is the modern interpretation of the Piper Cub, fabric on tubular steel, big tires, and tailwheel handling that rewards good rudder discipline. It's the most popular MSFS bush-flying platform and the airframe most likely to humble a tricycle-gear pilot trying tailwheel for the first time.
Landing technique
- Approach at 60 KIAS, slowing to 50 over the threshold. Wheel landings can be flown faster; 3-point landings need precise stall awareness.
- Wheel landing: hold the aircraft level, fly the mains onto the runway, ease the stick forward as the wheels touch. Then hold the tail up as long as practical.
- 3-point landing: full stall just above the runway, all three wheels touch together. The tailwheel-up moment is brief; commit to it.
- Crosswind: wing-down technique only. Slip into the wind with opposite rudder, touch the upwind main first, then settle the downwind main, then the tailwheel.
- Use rudder aggressively after touchdown, the XCub will weathervane into any crosswind and you need rudder to keep it tracking.
Common mistakes
- Loss of directional control after touchdown. Most common tailwheel accident in any aircraft. Stay on the rudder until you're stopped.
- Bouncing a wheel landing by holding back too much elevator after the wheels touch, push forward as they touch.
- Approaching too fast and floating, the XCub wants to slow down to land.
Aircraft data
- Manufacturer
- CubCrafters
- Model
- XCub
- Variant
- —
- FAA approach category
- A
- MTOW
- 1043 kg (2299 lbs)
- Vref reference
- 50 kt
- MSFS source
- Default Std
- FLARE matches
- CubCrafters XCub · XCub
Related reading
- → How FLARE grades a landing , the composite formula behind every score
- → What "stabilized approach" actually means , the 1000-ft gate, four criteria, technique
- → Tailwheel / Aerobatic scoring thresholds , per-category curves applied to this airframe
- → Full scoring methodology reference , complete breakdown in the help docs