"The engine is the heart of an aeroplane, but the pilot is its soul."
- Sir Walter Raleigh
The Jabiru is a very popular aircraft amongst kit builders who obtain the Jabiru kit and gain many hours of enjoyment assembling their aircraft in places like their own home garage. The factory also has a factory assist program where you can build your kit in their factory located in Bundaberg Queensland. If you do not wish to assemble your own aircraft you can also obtain one of their fully factory built Jabirus. See kits being assembled in the forums by clicking here
Recreational flying affords us great opportunities when it comes to the aircraft that we can fly. We can build our aircraft from approved plans, purchase an approved kit and enjoy the hours of fun in putting our own heart and soul into the aircraft we will fly, or purchase a fully factory built ready to fly aircraft - all at affordable prices to the average person. Offcourse if we don't wish to own our own aircraft you will find many clubs around Australia where you can hire many different types of aircraft that we can use for our enjoyment of flying a recreational aircraft.
Aircraft types are divided into different categories or sections that have been defined by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) which are managed under arrangement with CASA by the recreational aviation governing body RA-AUS (Recreational Aviation Australia).
Home Built Categories
Section 95.10
Under this section a person may register their (casa approved) privately built single seat aeroplane. There are several requirements that must be satisfied under this category, and there are also several exemptions that can be applied. In general under this section (95.10) there are four main requirements:
1. The aeroplane is privately built, and has a single seat.
2. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus.
3. The aeroplanes maximum take-off weight is 300kg or less.
4. The wing loading of the aeroplane must not be greater than 30kg per square meter @ max weight. If the aeroplane is 2nd hand, it will have a certificate with it to certify the requirements have been met
Section 95.55 (para 1.2)
Registration of a homebuilt aeroplane under this section applies to aircraft which, in general, meet the following four conditions:
1. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the airworthiness requirements of section 101.28.
2. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the aircraft and certification requirements of section 101.55 para 1.1 – which is:
- a single engine
- propeller driven
- two seat (maximum) aircraft
- with a stall speed of not more than 45 knots in cruise configuration and 40 knots in landing configuration
- with a maximum cruise speed of 100 knots, and maximum weight of 450kg
3. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus
4. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)
Section 95.55 (para 1.5)
For registration of a homebuilt aeroplane under this section, there are, in general, five conditions that must be met - they are:
1. The aeroplane is an ultra light aircraft, where a person has built the majority part of it themselves, and for the sole purpose of that person’s education or recreation.
2. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus.
3. The aeroplane has no more than one propeller, one engine, and two seats.
4. The maximum take off weight of the aeroplane must not exceed 544kg; except for seaplanes where the maximum take off weight is 579kg (for a single seat sea plane) and 614kg (for a two seat seaplane)
5. The stall speed of the aeroplane must not exceed 45 knots (in landing configuration)
Section 95.55 (para 1.9)
This section will apply to homebuilt aeroplanes which meet, in general, the following four conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA)
2. Where sections 1.2 & 1.5 (above) do not apply (and also sections 1.3; 1.4; 1.6; 1.8 of 95.55)
3. The aeroplane must be registered to RA-Aus
4. The owner of the aeroplane must hold a current experimental certificate for that aeroplane
Factory Built Categories
Section 95.55 (para 1.3)
This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, three conditions:
1. The aeroplane must meet and comply with the airworthiness requirements of section 101.55 – which is the Aircraft Certification requirements for aircraft with a 450kg maximum weight.
2. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus.
3. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)
Section 95.55 (para 1.4)
This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, five conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified in the old section of 95.25 aircraft.
2. The aeroplane has not been modified (exceptions apply).
3. The aeroplane has a maximum take off weight not exceeding 340kg (for a single seat a/c) and 450kg (for a two seat a/c).
4. The aeroplane must be registered with RA-Aus.
5. Not an aeroplane that section 95.32 applies (weight shift and powered chutes)
Section 95.55 (para 1.6)
This section applies to a factory built aeroplane if it meets, in general, six conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as an ultra light a/c. which has a CASA certificate of type approval, and is factory built and manufactured for sale by a CASA certificate holder which permits the manufacture of the certified a/c type.
2. Where sections 1.2; 1.3; 1.4, section 95.10 (above), and an aeroplane that section 95.32 does not apply (weight shift and powered chutes).
3. The aeroplane must be registered with the RA-Aus.
4. The aeroplane has one engine, one propeller, and a maximum of two seats.
5. The maximum take off weight of the aeroplane must not exceed 544kg; except for seaplanes where the maximum take off weight is 579kg (for a single seat sea plane) and 614kg (for a two seat seaplane)
6. The aeroplane has a stall speed of 45 knots or less in landing configuration.
Section 95.55 (para 1.8)
This section applies to a factory built aeroplane up to a maximum take off weight of 600kg if it meets, in general, four conditions:
1. The aeroplane is classified as a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA), and has been manufactured by a qualified and CASA certified builder (factory built).
2. Where sections 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6 and 1.9 (above) do not apply.
3. The aeroplane must be registered with RA-Aus.
4. The owner of the aeroplane must be the holder of a special certificate of airworthiness for that a/c
Weight Shift and Powered Chutes
Section 95.32
This section applies to weight shift and powered chute a/c. The general conditions in this category are:
1. They can be one or two seat
2. They can be factory built (para 1.1; 1.2) or home built (para 1.3).
3. The weight shift aeroplane under this section can be RA-Aus registered or HGFA (powered chute RA-Aus only).
4. The maximum weight in this category is 450kg for weight shift a/c and 300kg for the powered chute.
5. Must have a stall speed of not more than 40 knots in landing configuration.
