Aircraft
Jabiru Unveils Twin-Engine J432 Light Sport Aircraft at Oshkosh
Jabiru introduced a twin-engine variant of its J432 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
AOPA reported that the four-seat aircraft appeared at the Jabiru Aircraft and US Sport Planes exhibit located along Celebration Way. The machine features two podded engines mounted on the nose. US Sport Planes President Scott Severen stated that the model shares over eighty percent of its parts with current Jabiru aircraft.
Propulsion comes from a pair of 85-horsepower J2200 engines built directly by Jabiru. These direct-drive, air-cooled powerplants burn roughly four gallons per hour on each side. The airframe achieves a cruise speed of 125 knots.
According to Severen, the design incorporates a ballistic parachute along with a third door. He also noted that the engines feature a close centerline, which reduces the severity of the critical engine. Severen described the handling as docile, comparing the aircraft's manners to a giant puppy dog.
The displayed airframe is a preproduction prototype intended for evaluation purposes. US Sport Planes, which imports Jabiru to the Americas, is pursuing light-sport category certification for the model under the Part 22 regulations. These certification rules take effect on July 24, just days after the Oshkosh exhibition.
Arkansas pilot Tony Burrow owns the exhibited aircraft and has flown Jabiru models since 2018. Burrow sought the added safety of a second engine, estimating that operating expenses will remain close to the sixty dollars per hour he experienced with single-engine Jabiru operation. Burrow reported an overwhelming public reaction, noting interest from several flight schools.
Severen confirmed plans to offer the aircraft as both a kit and a fully certified light-sport category machine. He identifies flight training facilities as the principal market for the twin J432 due to its training suitability and handling characteristics. The type originally made its first flight in 2013, with existing examples operating in Australia and South Africa, making the Oshkosh prototype the first in North America.
Sources: AOPA