The company was founded 1980 by the late Jim Richmond who, after noticing how the Piper Super Cub was used for backcountry operations while on a trip in Alaska, modified and refined the design for better safety and performance.

Richmond was an accomplished pilot and engineer, and was dedicated to making machines that enabled pilots to reach unimproved areas for recreation. He died in November 2021 at the age of 67.

• READ MORE: CubCrafters Founder Jim Richmond Dies

A newly formed nonprofit organization aims to honor the legacy of the founder of CubCrafters aircraft by expanding access to backcountry flying.

Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation

“The new [Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation (JRBAF)] is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to expanding public backcountry aviation access as a legacy project in honor of Jim Richmond, the late founder of CubCrafters,” said Brad Damm, vice president of CubCrafters.

The new foundation is completely separate from CubCrafters, said Damm, who serves as its volunteer executive director.

• READ MORE: Latest CubCrafters Design Looks Back and Ahead

According to Damm, the creation of the new charitable organization has been in the works for several years.

“We’ve organized a solid nonprofit corporate structure, established a great board of directors, and applied for and received tax-exempt status from the IRS,” he said.

The membership fee for the foundation is $100 a year, which, according to Damm, covers the federal tax on the grand prize aircraft in its annual fundraising raffle.

“So the winner doesn’t have to pay tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket just to accept the prize,” he said. “The grand prize aircraft itself is pretty special. It is a Carbon Cub S/N 001—an aircraft with a direct connection to Jim Richmond himself.” 

According to Damm, the foundation has been designed to complement the work that similar groups, such as the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), Alaska Airmen, and Idaho Aviation Association do to support the backcountry pilot community.

“We are constantly blown away by the advocacy they accomplish, the volunteer hours they put in, and the overall scope of what those organizations do year in and year out,” he said. “[Our new foundation’s focus is on] expanding public aviation access to the backcountry by opening more high-quality destination locations for people to fly to, experience, and enjoy.”

Part of that is the foundation’s purchase of the historic 45 Ranch in Idaho and opening it to the public.

“The airstrip is on deeded land owned by the Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation,” Damm said. “The new strip has always previously been closed to the public, but we’ve now changed that now and the public is welcome. Anyone is welcome to land and explore or enjoy the property. If you want to use the camp or rent one of the cabins, membership is required.”

Information about JRBAF membership may be found here.

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About the 2023 Honorees

Feith, an aviation safety expert, has been recognized as a champion of best practices and advocacy encouraging aviation safety awareness, especially when it comes to CFIs training future pilots. He is a recognized, well-respected leader in instructor circles.

Leach, an aviation journalist and founder and CEO of Aviation International News, is being recognized for his tireless efforts that turned a small publishing company into an industry leader. His thoughtful, insightful prose takes complex issues, such as the effect of the global economy on aviation, and provides a level of understanding greatly appreciated by the aviation community.

Richmond, with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, began his career in aviation in 1932 as a boy making models. He has a lifetime of achievements winning model aircraft contests and indoor championships. Six of his airplanes have been named “plane of the year” by the National Free Flight Society. He holds 33 patents for mechanism designs related to engineering and has earned hundreds of aero sports awards, inspiring youth into aviation-related careers. He has served the U.S. as an aero sports competitor and in the military.

Stangarone is recognized for nearly five decades of experience as an aviation communicator and chronicler of aviation history. He has used his talents for Cessna, Embraer, Safire Aircraft, Fairchild Dornier, Litton, United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky) and Rolls-Royce North America. Today he serves as the chairman and president of the New England Air Museum.

“The history of aviation is marked by great people who have impacted the industry in extraordinary ways with their life’s work,” said Amy Spowart, president and CEO of the NAA. 

Previous recipients of this award include Chuck Yeager, Olive Ann Beech, Clay Lacy, and Majorie and Katherine Stinson.

• READ MORE: NAA Celebrates Those Committed to Aviation and Aerospace

“This award serves to recognize these remarkable people,” said Spowart. “This year’s awardees represent excellence in vital industry sectors. From safety to leadership and beyond, this distinguished group is excellence personified, and we are honored to recognize them and their contributions to aviation.”

The selection committee for the 2023 Distinguished Statesman & Stateswoman of Aviation Award are previous year’s award winners. They include: Jim Albaugh, NAA board chair; J. Randolph Babbitt, former FAA administrator; Cassandra Bosco, Stateswoman of Aviation (2021); Peggy Chabrian, Stateswoman of Aviation (2016); Julie Clark, Stateswoman of Aviation (2020); David Franson, Statesman of Aviation (2020); Jonathan Gaffney, Statesman of Aviation (2019); William Garvey, Statesman of Aviation (2018); Angela Gittens, Stateswoman of Aviation (2021); Michael Huerta, former FAA administrator; John King, Statesman of Aviation (2018); Martha King, Stateswoman of Aviation (2018); Richard Koenig, Statesman of Aviation (2012); Jean Lydon-Rodgers, Stateswoman of Aviation (2021); and William Shea, Statesman of Aviation (2022).

The National Aeronautic Association is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and to promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight in the United States. In addition, the NAA is the caretaker of the most important aviation awards in the world and certifies all national aviation records set in the United States.

The post NAA Names McDonald Award Honorees appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

• READ MORE: CubCrafters Gets Set To Go Public

Advised by Manhattan Street Capital—an online fundraising platform for midstage and mature startups—CubCrafters said it intends to raise the $50 million from “fans, customers, aviation enthusiasts, the investment community, and the general public.”

The company said that first-round investors would be able to purchase shares at $5 per share and would need to make a minimum $400 investment per investor.

“In just 90 days, we received reservations for more than $25 million of CubCrafters’ shares,” Patrick Horgan, CubCrafters’ president and CEO, said in a statement. “This was a great first step in securing the vision of our founder, Jim Richmond, who wanted to give the public an opportunity to participate in the growth of our company.”

• CubCrafters Founder Jim Richmond Dies

Richmond passed away at his home in Washington in November 2021. He established the company in 1980 after being inspired by the Piper Super Cub. Over the course of four decades, the company has built more than 1,500 aircraft and has positioned itself to corner the backcountry market. 

The company said in a statement that demand has led to a two-year waitlist for its aircraft, and that public fundraising will allow it to complete orders more quickly. Additionally, it will invest in its customer support services and product innovation. According to the company’s investor presentation, CubCrafters predicts that the light sport aircraft global market could be worth $13 billion in 2027, up from $8.1 billion in 2021.

“Now that we have been qualified by the SEC, we look forward to welcoming new investors to CubCrafters and working on their behalf to drive long-term shareholder value,” Horgan said.

The company said it plans to remain a U.S.-based company and will continue manufacturing its product line at its facilities in Yakima, Washington.

The post CubCrafters Advances Towards Becoming a Public Company appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Richmond, 67, died on November 21 at his home in Yakima, Washington. He was surrounded by his family. 

Richmond founded CubCrafters in 1980 after a trip to Alaska where he saw how much the Piper Super Cub was used for backcountry operations. An engineer as well as a skilled A&P mechanic, Richmond sought ways to improve on the iconic design through modifications and refinements. It was his mission to take modern materials and manufacturing techniques to create an airplane that was safer and more efficient than its iconic predecessor.

According to a statement from CubCrafters, the company has built more than 1,500 new aircraft while simultaneously rebuilding and restoring aircraft for customers around the world.

Although retired from day-to-day management of CubCrafters, Richmond continued to be active in managing the strategic and creative direction of the company until his death. 

“CubCrafters is truly a family. Our employees, customers, and affiliates all feel Jim’s loss,” said Pat Horgan, current company president and CEO. “In everything we do moving forward, Jim will be with us. It was his stated intention that CubCrafters would continue as the market leader in the design and manufacture of the best backcountry aircraft in the world. 

“Both Jim’s family and the CubCrafters leadership team are fully committed to continue growing the aviation legacy that Jim started.”

A memorial service to celebrate Jim Richmond’s life is scheduled for December 4 at the CubCrafters Factory in Yakima, Washington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Idaho Aviation Foundation.

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