A newly delivered Carbon Cub UL has successfully completed a transcontinental and transatlantic flight from Lewiston, Idaho, to Poland. According to AVweb, the aircraft owner, Zbigniew Dziubas, opted for a ferry flight over traditional overseas shipping, tasking pilot Gabriel Batkiewicz with the mission.
The 6,900-nautical-mile journey took 94.5 hours of flight time and spanned several regions, including the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. Operations were managed with a focus on fuel endurance and safety during overwater legs. To enable a non-stop transit between Reykjavík, Iceland, and Wick, Scotland, the pilot utilized an auxiliary belly pod, which increased the aircraft’s fuel capacity from the standard 44 gallons to 69 gallons total. This specific 695-nautical-mile segment was completed in 6 hours and 58 minutes, with a total fuel consumption of 41.7 gallons.
Flight Specifications and Data
| Metric | Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Distance | 6,900 nautical miles |
| Total Flight Time | 94.5 hours |
| Standard Fuel Capacity | 44 gallons |
| Auxiliary Belly Pod | 25 gallons |
| Average Fuel Burn | 5.7 to 5.8 gallons per hour |
| True Airspeed | 97 to 100 mph |
| Key Leg (Reykjavík to Wick) | 695 nautical miles |
| Key Leg Duration | 6 hours, 58 minutes |
Operational challenges included a diversion in Canada due to deteriorating weather and high winds that delayed departures from Greenland. Despite these conditions, the aircraft maintained performance, reaching Flight Level 120 while crossing the Greenland ice cap. The Carbon Cub UL features a turbocharged Rotax 916 iS engine, which maintained stable performance throughout the trip, averaging a fuel burn rate of 5.7 to 5.8 gallons per hour.
For overwater safety, the aircraft was equipped with essential maritime survival gear, including immersion suits, life jackets, a life raft, and satellite-based emergency tracking and communications systems. Pilot Gabriel Batkiewicz noted that the reliability of the Rotax engine exceeded his initial expectations following the transoceanic transit.
Why It Matters
The completion of this flight underscores the evolving capabilities of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and similar categories in long-range ferry operations. By utilizing modern turbocharged powerplants like the Rotax 916 iS, these small aircraft are expanding their operational radius significantly. This transit demonstrates that with proper mission planning—such as the integration of auxiliary fuel systems and redundant communication suites—even specialized aircraft can perform intercontinental deliveries. This trend may influence future ferry logistics, providing private owners with more flexible, albeit complex, alternatives to containerized ocean freight for aircraft delivery.
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