Wynand

Bushpilot: I like your website. Nice fleet of Jabs you have. Looking at the specs of the J230 and also at Frank's comment, I realise that you guys are talking J230 at MAUW of 600kg. The 55kt approach speed stated as opposed to to the 65kt called for by my J430 (700kg) POH will make a big difference. The opening poster (compsci) also approaches at 65kt and finds he uses too much runway. What does the US version of the J230 POH call for? And, why use anything less than full flap extension?

compsci: Some good advice posted above. I'm still puzzled why you find 2500ft fields a bit tight. What altitudes are you flying at (other than Chicago)? Perhaps the best advice, above, is to check your idle rpm. My motor idles quite happily at 800rpm (static), showing about 1000 rpm in the hold-off. I always use full flap for all landings, even cross wind conditions. Some Jab drivers will advise otherwise, and I'm not arguing. My field elevation is 1800ft and I regularly vacate at the taxiway to my hangar, 900ft after the runway "numbers". I flare over the numbers and probably float at least 200ft before touch-down, so my rollout must be about 700ft. This is without "dragging it in". Chris Stott: 200m sounds about right for a proper short field technique (at low altitudes, light load).

Yes, the 6.00 - 6 tyres fit directly on the original rims. New tubes required. Nose wheel is standard. The bigger tyres raise the main gear axle stubs by 40mm. That translates to the prop being about 18mm closer to te ground. The factory in SA does not endorse this owner mod, saying the brakes were not designed to stop the aircraft with such big wheels (mechanical disadvantage). True, but I go lightly on the brakes and I can still stop in less distance than the take-off run required. There is much less hammering on the gear legs over rough terrain and I'm sure the gear leg bolts are happier too. Some pilots report noticably more drag in the air, but I've tested this and I can't measure any difference in IAS at same rpm and same DA. The fellow in the hangar next to mine also fitted 6.00 - 6 's and added hub caps as supplied by SA factory. Nice!

Hi Chris That photo window is on the pilot side.... heh..you a chopper pilot? But you're right, in a way. I should have put it on passenger side. I can only grip my camera with my right hand due the placement of the shutter button. That means I have to cross over my arms: Left hand on stick and right hand on camera. That causes terrible flying, bad pics and an irate passenger. Lately I've flown from the right seat so my passenger can take the pics. That sucks. Jab in SA has someone local install various designs of photo windows. They look and work better than my DIY job.

Hi Andy This is a stock standard 2008 J430 by the Jab factory in South Africa. By then they'd added the lip at the bottom of the cowl. No overheating problems, even at ambient of 38°C. The following pic shows its mug more clearly, and the oversized tyres. Here, we'd landed on a pan, taking a break from the midday heat and associated turbulence in Botswana.

Using gravel or uneven grass surfaces quite often with my J430, I fitted 6" tyres, just like those used on C172 C182. I run them at 1.3 bar and can vouch that they smooth out the ride without impacting noticably on the flight.

My J3300 (serial 1732) running in a J430 made 1000 hours with metal to spare. I used about 50/50 Avgas and 95 unleaded (SouthAfrica) during this cycle. Some circuit work, some slow flying in rallies, but mostly touring at 2 950 - 3 000 rpm. Just a few minor snags on the way to 1 000hrs, hardly worth mentioning. Presently she's grounded due to a piston pin circlip issue, that I'm sure will be resolved in a few days: See http://jabiru.co.za/services/Shadow%20Lite%20SL10%20Circlips%2005%2005%202012%20%20Circlips%2005%20May%202012.pdf

Can one not shorten the pushrod a tad? I also found an exhaust valve with the hydraulic lifter bottomed out. On inspection I found the pushrod was 0.4mm longer than the others. Fortunately I had a spare of the correct length and that sorted out the problem.