CubCrafters Appoints New Southwest Dealer at Mack Mesa Airport

This article is based on an official press release from CubCrafters.

On March 10, 2026, backcountry aircraft manufacturer CubCrafters announced a significant dealer transition for its Southwest region. According to the company’s official press release, Ladd Klinglesmith, operating under the banner of Four Corners Cubs, has been appointed as the new Certified Sales Center (CSC) manager for a territory that includes Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.

Klinglesmith succeeds Rick Bosshardt, who is retiring after 12 years of representing the manufacturer in the region. This transition marks a new operational chapter for CubCrafters in what is widely considered one of the most demanding and popular backcountry flying environments in the United States.

Company statements indicate that the new dealership will be based out of Mack Mesa Airport (10CO), a private airstrip located in Grand Junction, Colorado. From this hub, Four Corners Cubs will provide sales of new, pre-owned, and kit aircraft, alongside localized support and Rotax-certified maintenance services.

Passing the Torch in the Backcountry

A Legacy of Safety and Advocacy

For over a decade, the Southwest territory was managed by Rick Bosshardt through SunCountry Cubs. According to industry background data, Bosshardt, an instrument-rated private pilot with over 1,800 hours of flight time, built a 12-year legacy not just on sales, but on aviation safety advocacy. He was known for championing the use of modern glass panels and SiriusXM weather tracking to safely navigate the unpredictable weather patterns, deep canyons, and high altitudes characteristic of the Rocky Mountains.

Enter Four Corners Cubs

The incoming dealer, Ladd Klinglesmith, brings a highly technical background to the role. The press release notes that Klinglesmith possesses over 40 years of diverse aviation experience. He holds a Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) rating, an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic license, and four jet type ratings. His professional background spans agricultural aviation, corporate flying, and air ambulance services.

Klinglesmith also has a deep personal history with the manufacturer’s lineup. According to CubCrafters, he has owned and operated every model the company has produced, beginning with the Top Cub, and has personally built a Carbon Cub EX-3 kit aircraft.

“As a natural addition to our dealer team, we’re pleased to welcome Ladd Klinglesmith, his experience and deep roots with CubCrafters and in backcountry aviation make him an ideal fit to serve both new and existing customers in the Southwest,” stated Brad Damm, Vice President of CubCrafters, in the official release.

The Ultimate Test Drive at Mack Mesa Airport

A Strategic Base of Operations

The relocation of the regional dealership to Mack Mesa Airport (10CO) places Four Corners Cubs at the doorstep of prime backcountry flying. The Grand Junction airstrip features grass runways and airplane camping amenities, serving as a gateway to the rugged terrain of Moab, Utah, and the Colorado River. The Four Corners region is characterized by high-density altitudes, desert cliffs, and unimproved dirt strips, requiring specialized, high-performance aircraft that can execute short takeoffs and rapid climbs in thin mountain air.

Showcasing the Carbon Cub UL

To navigate this terrain, Klinglesmith is currently operating a Carbon Cub UL for demonstration flights. The Carbon Cub UL, which entered full-scale production in early 2025, is a lightweight aircraft powered by a 160HP turbocharged Rotax 916iS engine capable of running on both MOGAS and AVGAS. The aircraft recently gained global attention in October 2025 when pilot Jon Kotwicki used it to shatter the unofficial altitude record for Cub-type aircraft, reaching 37,609 feet over the California coast.

According to the company, Klinglesmith plans to expand his demonstration fleet in the near future by adding either a Carbon Cub FX-3 or an XCub, the latter being CubCrafters’ flagship Part 23 Certified aircraft designed for greater speed, range, and payload.

“I’m honored to continue supporting CubCrafters owners and pilots throughout the Southwest. This region offers some of the most rewarding backcountry flying in the country, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by Rick Bosshardt,” Klinglesmith remarked in the company statement.

AirPro News Analysis

Strategic Positioning in a Demanding Market

We view this dealer transition as a highly strategic move for CubCrafters. By appointing an individual who holds both a CFII rating and an A&P mechanic license, the manufacturer is ensuring that its Southwest customers have access to deep technical and operational expertise. The addition of localized Rotax-certified maintenance is particularly crucial, given the increasing reliance on the Rotax 916iS engine in the new Carbon Cub UL models.

Furthermore, positioning the dealership at Mack Mesa Airport allows prospective buyers to test these aircraft in the exact high-altitude, rugged environments where they are designed to operate. Leveraging the Carbon Cub UL as the primary demonstration aircraft capitalizes on the model’s recent altitude record and directly addresses the performance needs of pilots flying in the thin air of the Rocky Mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What territory does the new CubCrafters Southwest dealer cover?
  Four Corners Cubs covers Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.
• Where is Four Corners Cubs located?
  The dealership is based at Mack Mesa Airport (10CO) in Grand Junction, Colorado.
• What aircraft are currently available for demonstration?
  Ladd Klinglesmith currently operates a Carbon Cub UL for demo flights, with plans to add a Carbon Cub FX-3 or an XCub in the future.
• Who is the outgoing dealer?
  Rick Bosshardt of SunCountry Cubs is retiring after 12 years of serving the Southwest region.

Sources

• CubCrafters Official Press Release