airplane short takeoff/landing records

[briankirk725]

This is an amazing performance for a fixed wing aircraft. I wonder what not so visible changes were made and what limitations the modifications place on other aspect of the plane's performance and reliability. Certainly some added weight there. Anybody have a link to more info? Ed W

There's a nice little summary here under the "Backcountry Super Cubs" section: KITPLANES The Independent Voice for Homebuilt Aviation - Super Cub Kit Comparison - KITPLANES Article

The big thing is the leading edge slot which brings the stall speed way down. Longer wing control surfaces are another (also to be able to control the plane at low speeds). Engine mods and using carbon fiber are other common changes. There's a balancing act to be sure. Add a bigger engine, then you might want to lower the weight elsewhere to compensate (less electronics, lighter seats, carbon fiber, etc). The supercubs.org forum is another resource to check out to get a lot of information/theory on all of that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading-edge_slot