EAA Sport Aviation - February 2012

AUSTRALIA JABIRU J230

I PURCHASED THE KIT as a J200 from Jabiru USA without wings and engine. I started building while a resident of Northern Virginia and member of EAA Chapter 186. After two years spent building in the United States, I returned to Australia and shipped it back to finish the project. By that time the J230 had been developed with a longer wingspan. This resulted in a better glide ratio and was a must-have. Another two years building with the new wings and engine (Jabiru 3600), and it was finely finished. I acquired a partner, Mike Innes, who helped with finishing the construction. I added my version of electric flaps with three positions controlled by cam switches. The instruments are steam gauges with an XCOM radio, vertical card compass, Tru Trak, and transponder. The first flight was in July 2010, with Neil Wickens as the pilot. It’s a great touring aircraft with all the space behind the seats. It performs as per specs with a cruise of 120 knots. Thanks to my friends at Chapter 186 and Mike Innes, Neil Wickens, and of course, my wife, Louise.

WISCONSIN VP- 1

ON JUNE 17 N137WC and I lifted off Runway 28 at Iowa County Airport, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, for our first flight. The weather was perfect, and Len Werner was on the ground with radio and camera in hand. The next 30 minutes was about as exhilarating as it gets. I have logged more than 3,000 hours of GA flight time, but nothing comes close to flying open cockpit in my own plans-built aircraft that took five years and three different locations to build. N137WC is not your standard 1968 magazine VP- 1. With an electrified 1835 VW, brakes, steerable tail wheel, turtledeck, clean landing gear with wheelpants, and latex house paint it is rather unique. Cost: $10,000.

As do most homebuilders, I had a lot of help: Len Werner: No. 1 gopher,
photographer, and ground support; Herb Statz: pieces, parts, long arm, and
technical advice; Bill Rewey: technical counselor; and special mention:
Fritz Wagner and his VP- 1 website and my wing-flipper wife, Kathryn.