Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd

Type	Proprietary limited company
Industry	Light aircraft Manufacturers
Founded	1988
Headquarters	Bundaberg, Australia
Key people	Rodney Stiff Phil Ainsworth
Products	Light aircraft and aircraft engines
Website	www.jabiru.net.au

Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that produces a range of kit- and ready-built civil light aircraft in Bundaberg, Queensland. The company also designs and manufactures a range of light aircraft engines. Types include microlights (Ultralight or ULM), including the Calypso, two-seat trainers (J160/ J170) and four-seat aircraft (J400/ J430).

The aircraft are built largely of composite materials and are conventional high-wing monoplanes with typically tricycle undercarriage, although taildragger versions are also available. The wings can be removed for ease of storage or transportation.

Use of modern composite techniques has resulted in a strong yet light structure. The aircraft are designed around the pilot and passengers, being spacious and comfortable for touring, yet with a small footprint and frontal profile. Controls include a centrally-mounted control column, brake and trim lever.

There is also a Jabiru assembly facility in George, Western Cape, South Africa.^[1]

History

 

 

2001 model Jabiru SP-470

 

 

2004 model Jabiru J450

 

 

2003 model Jabiru Calypso 3300 on amphibious floats at the Canadian Aviation Expo, 2004

 

 

Jabiru 5100 eight cylinder aircraft engine

 

 

Jabiru Calypso 2200 on skis at Montebello, Quebec, January 2005

The company was formed in 1988 by Rodney Stiff and Phil Ainsworth to manufacture affordable light aircraft in kit and certified forms. In October 1991, the first aircraft (Jabiru LSA 55/2k), was certified by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority.

Due to the original engine manufacturer ceasing production of aero engines, the company started development of its own engines, and by 1995 the Jabiru 2200, a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder aircooled aviation engine, was available for delivery. Since then the six-cylinder Jabiru 3300 and eight-cylinder Jabiru 5100 have been added to the range. Also in 1995, it was decided to offer the aircraft range as amateur-build or experimental self-build kits.

The microlight version of the Jabiru two-seater aircraft, the Jabiru UL, holds two world speed records for three-axis microlight aircraft.^[2] These were set over 50- and 100-kilometre predefined courses and certified by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale).

Aircraft

Factory-built

• LSA - configured to meet ultralight regulations
• ST3 - configured to meet general aviation regulations
• UL-D - configured to meet UK Microlight regulations
• J120C - Certified 2 seater with 2200cc Engine
• J160D - Certified 2 seater with 2200cc Engine
• J170C - Certified 2 seater with 2200cc Engine. Basically a J160 with longer wings for operation in hotter climates
• J230D - Certified with 3300cc Engine

Kitplanes

• J200 - two-seat aircraft
• J400 - four-seat aircraft
• J450 - four-seat aircraft with STOL wing
• J430 - four-seat aircraft with winglets for best compromise between STOL performance and speed
• SP - Light aircraft version
• SP-T - Taildragger version of SP
• UL - export version to meet European microlight regulations (Calypso)
• UL-T - taildragger version of UL
• SK - two-seat aircraft (group A version)

Engines

Jabiru produce their own range of lightweight four-stroke horizontally-opposed aircooled engines, specifically designed and engineered for use in aircraft. All engines are direct drive and are fitted with alternators, silencers, vacuum pump drives and dual ignition systems as standard. Over 3600 four-cylinder engines and over 1700 of the six-cylinder engines have been produced. The basic design is now so mature that only minor design changes have been made in the last 1000 engines or so.

• Jabiru 2200; 80 bhp (55 kW) or 85 bhp (64 kW) four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine
• Jabiru 3300; 120 bhp (89 kW) six-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine
• Jabiru 5100; 180 bhp (134 kW) eight-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine

References

External links

• Jabiru Company