Are Super Cubs worth the Hype?

As a backcountry pilot who built and flies not a true bushplane (RANS S-21), I’ve spent a lot of time flying alongside various Super Cub variants wondering if they truly live up to the legendary reputation. Today, I finally get to find out firsthand. This is the story of my very first Super Cub flight—and we are testing it out in the ultimate backcountry playground: Alaska. (Filmed July 4, 2025...sorry, been busy!) I strap into the back of ‪@TrentonPalmer‬ Trent Palmer’s Rotax 916iS-powered Legend Nomad. We also meet up with Daniel Maccarone in his PA-18 Super Cub, who took a break from his shop to show us around some of his local, "secret" backcountry landing spots deep in the Alaska Range. Check out Daniel’s work and projects at: Premium Aircraft Interiors: Sport Aircraft Seats https://sportaircraftseats.com/ Listen to the Podcast: Coffee in a Hangar ‪@AirplanesInTheWild‬ https://coffeeinahangar.com/ Ever since building the Backcountry Bogey (my RANS S-21) and flying alongside various Cub variants, I’ve been curious to see what these specialized bush planes can truly handle on the rough stuff. Getting to experience the extreme short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities in real-time was incredible. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous of how slow they can land, how insanely quiet the Rotax 916iS engine runs, and flying from the centerline. It honestly brought back some major centerline thrust nostalgia from my F-15 days. While the top-end airspeed of these newer generation cubs is starting to creep closer to the Bogey, it's safe to say it won't be breaking the sound barrier anytime soon. From technical 300-foot ski-ramp ridge landings to dropping 35-inch tundra tires onto rough, lumpy terrain, this was a masterclass in Alaska bush piloting. It was an unforgettable day of a special adventure up in the Last Frontier. ✈️ About the Aircraft & Flight Setup: If you are a fan of experimental aviation, homebuilt aircraft, or extreme STOL performance, this flight covers the ultimate contrast in design philosophies.The Legend Nomad Cub: Optimized for ultra-slow arrival speeds, massive visibility, and power-on-demand courtesy of the turbocharged Rotax 916iS and a constant-speed Catto prop. The RANS S-21 Outbound (The Bogey): Built for a slicker, faster cruise speed with incredibly light, snappy, counterbalanced flight controls, offering a completely different style of backcountry cross-country capability. The Terrain: Off-airport operations featuring tight mountain ridges, high-altitude glacier valleys, and unprepared lumpy tundra surfaces within the Alaska Range. Thanks, Trent for the drone footage and footage from the Nomad. 00:00 - Flight Into the Alaska Range 00:23 - The Backseat Yoga Challenge 01:07 - Meeting Daniel Maccarone 02:31 - Landing the Mountain Tops 03:19 - Keeping Secret Spots Secret & STOL Chat 04:57 - The 300-Foot Ski Ramp Landing 07:00 - First Impressions: RANS S-21 vs. Legend Nomad 07:58 - "All I Gotta Do Is Be Wrong Once..." 10:21 - Epic Glacier Flight Path 11:45 - 35-Inch Tires Only: Bumpy Tundra Landing 13:14 - Another World: High-Altitude Glacier Views 14:13 - "Cheat Mode" Flaps & Wrap Up