First conceptualized by Alec D. Wild, the Twin Cub, better known in the bush community as “DoubleEnder” is seen to some as “the most innovative prototype bush plane of the modern era” *. With a focus on safety, redundancy, reliability and stability, this one-off home built aircraft remains one of the most exciting back country experiences any pilot could have an opportunity of flying.
The real world DoubleEnder was a home built in a joint effort by Alec D. Wild, Eric Lewis (LewAero Works), Engineered by Douglas Keller, and later iterated/modified by Peter Anderson. This unique aircraft started development in the mid 2000s as a Piper PA-18 and then made its public reveal in various Super Cub Forums. The aircraft gets its name from its unique “pusher-puller” set of in-line Rotax 9 series engines. It can often be seen equipped with a custom built belly pod that doubles as an auxiliary fuel tank. A notable feature of the aircraft’s design included a large bubble canopy, offering the pilot a stunning view from the cockpit. Other design elements included a fully actuating horizontal stabilizer for trim, 35” bush tires equipped for off-airport operations, and automatic leading edge slats on the primary wing surface in addition to large spoilerons that greatly assist roll rate during flight. The DoubleEnder also featured a fully free-castering tailwheel that allowed for precise ground maneuvering in very tight spaces; perfect for sandbars in the backcountry.
Based on our research, the DoubleEnder saw roughly 4 distinct phases of life before its last officially recorded flight in May 2015 in Aurora, Oregon. The status of the project at the current time, July 2023, is unknown. It remains a one off aircraft and never met any commercial production. Newer home built aircraft created by the same team, such as the “Ascender”, have also been in production with a handful of public photos surfacing online. Today, there is only a handful of publicly remaining information online of the DoubleEnder and information is declining as the years continue to pass. They showcase the aircraft’s stunning visibility and unique in-line engine sounds in detail. With such scarce information remaining, we took the opportunity to recreate this aircraft and cement its history in Microsoft Flight Simulator as one of the most unique bush planes to ever be flown.
(Double Ender)
