Thruxton Jackaroo

Jackaroo
Role Cabin Tourer
Manufacturer Jackaroo Aircraft Limited
First flight 1957
Primary user Wiltshire School of Flying
Number built 19 conversions
Developed from de Havilland Tiger Moth
A Jackaroo in 1980
Jackaroo Cockpit

The Thruxton Jackaroo was a 1950s British four-seat cabin biplane converted from a de Havilland Tiger Moth by Jackaroo Aircraft Limited at Thruxton Aerodrome and Rollason Aircraft and Engines Limited at Croydon Airport.

History

The Thruxton Jackaroo was designed as a four-seat cabin general purpose biplane, the original tandem two-seat Tiger Moth fuselage was widened to allow side-by-side seating for 4 people.[1] It was marketed as "the cheapest four-seat aircraft in the world".[2] The first conversion first flew on 2 March 1957.[3] Eighteen Tiger Moths were converted by Jackaroo Aircraft Limited between 1957 and 1959 and one aircraft was converted by Rollason's in 1960.[1] The aircraft could be fitted with an optional crop spraying gear.[4] One converted aircraft was further modified as a single-seat agricultural aircraft, but with little interest in the variant the aircraft was converted back to a Mk. 1.[1]

Variants

Jackaroo in 2003
Jackaroo Mk 1
Production cabin biplane with wooden canopy.[1]
Jackaroo Mk 2
Single-seat Agricultural variant with either a hopper or 60-gal tank in place of the two front seats, one conversion.[1][2]
Jackaroo Mk 3
Production cabin biplane with metal canopy and provision for brakes.[1]

Specifications

Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 4+1⁄4 in (9.25 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
  • Wing area: 239 sq ft (22.2 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,360 lb (617 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,180 lb (989 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 102 mph (164 km/h, 89 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
  • Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3.0 m/s)

See also

Related development

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thruxton Jackaroo.
  1. ^ a b c d e f Jackson 1987, pp. 309-311
  2. ^ a b "Thruxton Jackaroo". Flight. 29 August 1958. p. 327.
  3. ^ Bridgman 1958, p. 92.
  4. ^ "Handling the Thruxton Jackaroo". Flight. 12 July 1957. p. 44.
  5. ^ Jackson 1987, p. 311.
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958–59. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
  • Jackson, A.J. (1987). De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (3rd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
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