Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Two / four-seat light sport aircraft

Power Plant:

Two 60 kw (80 hp) Jabiru 2200 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines

Specifications:

History:

In about 2012 Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd of Bundaberg, QLD was investiagting extending its range of aircraft by building a helicopter and a twin-engine variant of the Jabiru light sporting aircraft. Jabiru dealers, Leonard and Leslie Alford of Jabiru Southern Africa, were of the view that there was a market for a twin engine Jabiru on the African continent. One of the reasons was that flights over parts of Southern Africa should be made at considerable height because of the prevalence of wild animals and warring groups with AK-47 rifles who were known to shoot at low flying aircraft; and the nervousness of pilots and crews in making outfield landings.

To this end the project was always intended to be a joint development and the new model was aimed mainly at the South African market. John Farmer of Jabiru in Australia used the fuselage of the four-seat J-230 / J-430 series, enclosed the nose and fitted two Jabiru 2200 engines, one on each side of the fuselage on small canards or stub wings forward of the cockpit doors, similar in configuration to that used on aircraft such as the Dornier Do-28. Thomas Ferguson, an engineer at Jabiru, designed the supporting structure for the engines, the firewall structure of the J-430 being unchanged and the nosewheel remaining in its normal position.

A prototype was built and underwent some testing in Australia, carrying the registration VH-JAX (c/n 0114). However, the Company at that stage was of the view the market was not large enough for such an aircraft in Australia. As noted, the project was intended to be and became a joint development but aimed at the South African market. The changes to the aircraft became simply a bolt-on modification.

When the second aircraft was completed the project was shipped to Southern Africa where it was completed to fly. Jabiru Southern Africa brought the aircraft to production standard and carried out negotiations with the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deal with acceptance in the Experimental Category.

Some problems arose during initial design work as to where the two engines should be placed, as there was some complexity in hanging the engines from the wings as this would have meant re-design of the basic wing structure and difficulties associated with fire proofing the wings. The designers then came up with the idea of engine pods but they obstructed the entry and exit points to the cabin. It was then decided to mount the engines on a short canard mounted on each side of the firewall and with this design the propellers were quite close to the fuselage, reducing the amount of asymmetric thrust on one engine. The doors were thus able to open against the engine pods and the design evolved from that point.

From sketches of the design prepared by Rodney Stiff, John Farmer made a streamlined nose for the J-430 and the two engine pods, Thomas Ferguson being responsible for the testing of the structure supporting the engines. These were designed to meet FAR Part 23 standards and most of the structure was built in composites with aluminium connections to the engines. The firewall structure remained the same, as did the nosewheel.

When the structure and the necessary mounts were completed, the incomplete project was shipped to South Africa for completion. It made its first flight on 13 September 2013 and was registered as ZU-FYO shortly thereafter. Work has proceeded in South Africa to bring the aircraft to production in conjunction with the South African CAA. In due course the two Companies expect to offer the aircraft as a kit for Australian / American builders, as well as other countries that accept the Experimental Category. It was also expected a kit would be made available so existing aircraft could be converted to twin engine configuration if the owner so requires. The initial prototype VH-JAX survives at the manufacturer’s facility at Bundaberg and has beeen regularly noted at aviation events.

In late 2019 Jabiru announced that it was putting its J-430 Twin Jabiru (also known as the Model 432) into production and sale on the Australian market, having previously indicated it would only build the model for the South African market.  Some further development of the design took place, the prototype airframe being lightened by 20 kg (44 lb) and fitted with new Jabiru engines, these being placed closer to the nose to further reduce asymmetric thrust in the event of an engine loss.  Jabiru stated it was seeking Civil Aviation Authority of Australia (CASA) approval for the model to be classed as a single-engine aircraft because of the closeness of the engines.  Whereas the prototype had the engines installed on a canard wing, the new design had new engine mounts.