Wed May 12, 2021 12:23 pm
#1846473
A long time since this was posted but,
I have been the part owner of 3 Jabirus including our current J400. The following points might be useful for someone thinking of buying one.
The aircraft is pleasant, fast for the power and has benign handling. Can carry 4 in theory, realistically 2+2. I have flown 3 up and it was good.
Engine, needs treating right, needs CHT sensing on ALL cylinders and NEVER overheat it. Stick to the maintenance schedule. Use it regularly. Personally I prefer the earlier manually adjusted lifters to the later hydraulic lifters.
Airframe, no problems in three years J400 operation. In 10 years Jabiru operation had to change one wing strut due to poor build and one pair undercarriage legs.
Undercarriage, our J400 brakes were rubbish, just fitting Mk3 mod, we will see how that pans out
We run off a 800m grass strip on a hill, takeoff up hill is never more than 500m, Landing downhill about the same. Approach needs to be about 70kn and don’t close the throttle in the flare, can be reduced but never closed. Plenty of elevator authority but low inertia can lead to premature stall. Crosswind, have landed it beyond the demonstrated limit of 14kn, handled it fine.
Mogas, no, the tanks are part of the wing, damage the tank and the wing is scrap.
Get a good one, they are a treasure, a poor one will take some work but none of it is difficult and then it will be a treasure.
Engine support, so far no problems, our four cylinder ran to 900hrs before rebuild and was only rebuilt because needed to sell it and nobody would buy it with imminent rebuild requirement.