JABIRU J160C

We use the J160C.  Jabiru developed it as a tough commercial grade aircraft specifically to do the job of pilot training.

The airframe is made of fibreglass and epoxy resin, cured at ambient temperatures. Total Jabiru production is rapidly approaching 2,000 airframes over a twenty year history.   Uniquely, Jabiru make their own power plants and Microair, next door, make the avionics.  

The J160 (together with the J170 long span variant) has a wider and higher cockpit, and more legroom than any previous Jabiru.

This aircraft has the 'legs' to work all day without refuelling or to go, say, from Wagga to the Jabiru factory at Bundaberg without pulling up for juice.  Jabiru control surfaces are operated via Teleflex Morse push-pull cables, which curve gracefully through the airframe. There are no pulleys to cause cable wear, and to possibly be jammed by foreign objects.

Our J160 is equipped with a Microair VHF, featuring extended frequency range, to enable ATIS and AWIS (aerodrome weather) broadcasts to be received. A Microair T2000SFL mode C transponder is fitted, primarily so that our aircraft can automatically trigger the collision avoidance systems fitted to REX and QANTAS aircraft that frequent Wagga.

The panel features a Dynon Electronic Flight Information Screen plus a good selection of analogue instruments.

 A Garmin GPSMAP296 is fitted, to assist navigation or just to play with.

SOME NUMBERS for flying the J160C 

Max. Manoeuvre (Va) harsh turns and serious turbulence……………...102 kts          Note: 100 kts = 185 kph
Never Exceed (Vne) ……………………………………………………..140 kts
Max Structural (Vno) exceed only in smooth air………………………..112 kts
Max Flap Extension (Vfe)………………………………………………...84 kts
Take-off Safety Speed (achieve this by 50 feet AGL)……………………66 kts
Climb out (flaps in take-off position)……………….…………………….70 kts
Climb (flaps up)……………………………………………………...70 – 80 kts
Best glide distance (still air, flaps up )……………………………………..65 - 70 kts
Final landing approach (Vref) flaps full down…………………………… 63 kts   Don't get slow!
Demonstrated crosswind component (take-off/landing ) ………………….14 kts
Baggage stowed against rear of seats below seat back (per seat)…………18 kgs
Useable fuel capacity……………………126 lit (physically confirmed on this aircraft)
Fuel type..............100/130 AVGAS or Premium Unleaded motor spirit of 95 RON octane or better
Engine oil type.....Aviation grade W15W50 or similar multigrade is best. Avoid thick monogrades such as W100 in cold weather.
Engine oil capacity.........approx. 2.2 litres

The following fuel flow rates are OK for conservative flight planning purposes (wheel spats removed):

RPM                   FUEL FLOW             TRUE AIRSPEED
2800…………………….15 lit/hour…………………….90 kts
3000…………………….17 lit/hour…………………….95 kts 
Full throttle fuel flow is around 26 lit/hour.

The carburettor is a BING altitude compensating type. No manual mixture control is fitted as the BING will automatically adjust the fuel flow to keep air/AVGAS mixture correct as air density changes.