Jabiru Lsa-55 Review
 My very 1st experience in an 'Ultralight Aircraft' was in a Jabiru LSA-55 with the old 1600cc engine. After doing a local flight in it, I was totally put off the 'Ultralight movement', as I thought if this is what they are like there is no way I want to get involved...I truly hated it. I found the Jabiru 55 - LSA dangerously underpowered (in my opinion), noisy, rough as guts inside, and just not my sort of aircraft...it certainly didn't feel like a 'real plane' to me - that was my initial thoughts after having flown mainly GA aircraft.
Nearly 10 years later (and wiser), I was (reluctantly) ready to give the Jabiru 55 another go...I had heard a lot of good things about the 'improved LSA' with the 2200cc engine, and wanted to have a look for myself. The test aircraft was a very clean and tidy little Jabiru at Inbound Aviation, Ballarat (left top of page), and I ended up doing around 6 hours flying time in this aircraft to get a good feel for it.
When it came time to do my 1st flight in this little Jabiru, my thoughts as I approached this mini airplane was: 'Its so small!' I'm 6'1" and not on the slim side of my ideal weight range, so I was worried about actually fitting into this little plane. With me standing next to it (in the picture to the top) it almost looks like a radio controlled model plane!!
 I opened up the door, had a look inside - now I really wasn't sure that I would fit! But, I followed the instructors advice on 'how to get in'...I stuck my bum in first, sat on the seat and then dragged my legs in behind me. With my long legs, I found it a REAL struggle to get them in the small door way, with my feet scraping the front of the door frame - as others must be doing also, as I noticed that the rubber seal that surrounds the door frame is quickly deteriorating at that spot on this aircraft. Even though it was a little bit difficult to get my long legs through the small door opening, and although a little on the snug side, once I was in and seated, there was actually adequate room for me and the instructor in this (surprisingly) wide body (with its bubbled out doors), side by side seating, all composite a/c. The seats are only just adequate as far as comfort goes in my opinion, a bit more cushioning wouldn't go astray, because after flying for an hour or two, you really feel it! The fatigue seems to set in fairly quickly in this aircraft, and I would be wanting to put in some adequate padding on the seats if it were my aircraft. For those who are on the larger side and who are tall, I think this aircraft is a struggle to get in and out of, especially those of us on the more "mature" side of 40.
Looking around at the interior, I felt that it was a bit 'messy' looking for this type (and price). I felt that the general finish was adequate, but not very impressive to be quite frank and certainly has an out dated look to it. Looking behind the pilot and passenger seat, the fiber-glass fuel tank sits in, what should be, the luggage area - not a good look as far as I am concerned, it takes up a LOT of room, and does smell of AvGas! Not good for passengers who may suffer from "airsickness".
The Jabiru LSA is powered by, originally an (reportedly) unreliable and underpowered (with a full load) 1.6 lt Jabiru engine, which it seems that most lsa 55's have upgraded to the 85hp, 2.2lt Jabiru 4 stroke, 4 cylinder motor, coupled to a direct drive 2 blade wooden prop and spinner - which this aircraft in question has. Let me tell you though, it makes for a huge improvement in performance! It's like a different aircraft in the take off run and climb out, not to mention the ability to VERY quickly accelerate in a 'go-around' situation - even at a high airport on a hot day.
Taxiing was no problems and is fairly similar to most GA training aircraft, except that it does not have differential braking, therefore, the pilot needs to anticipate any sharp turns and turn well in advance or give it a very wide birth, which seems strange for such a tiny airplane. This aircraft has a central (shared) 'control stick', not a yoke, and has a central brake lever. The throttle for this aircraft is in a very strange place to say the least! It sits between your legs under the front of the seat - for both passenger and pilot...Basically you keep your hands between your legs all the time - I guess it would seem natural after getting used to it, but I found it clumsy and I did not like it at all. On the plus side, at least the throttle lever doesn't get in the way (for people with freakishly long legs, such as me) when entering and exiting the aircraft (such as the later model Jabi throttle levers tend to do).
 Lined up for take off on RWY 36 at YBLT, announced my intentions as I opened up the throttle to full-power, giving us about 3000 rpm. The little plane burst forward with no hesitation at all, very quickly gaining speed. In no time at all and at around 40 - 50 kt, I gently pulled back on the control stick, to which this little (pocket rocket) Jabiru responded with a sudden jump in the air - she wanted to go! With 1 stage of flap for take off the airspeed must stay below 75 kt (in the white arc), so the climb out feels nearly straight up - quite exhilarating! Once the flaps were raised, at 200' AGL, this Jabiru took on a much more relaxed attitude and around an 80 kt climb. The flaps are retracted by shifting a lever at the side of your head attached to the side of the fuselage, just above the door - a little different, but I found it easy enough to use with my left hand while flying with my right. There is basically 3 holes/positions to place the lever in - full flaps/1 stage/fully retracted.
With the enormous rate of climb gained from the 2200 engine, very quickly I was at 4,500 ft - leveled off and started to get the feel for this pocket rocket. Once established in the cruise, I forgot very quickly that I was in such a small a/c, as it has a much larger feel in the air than it does on the ground. To me, it felt very much like the Piper Tomahawk that I did my ab-initio training in, many years earlier...a little edgy - if not a little manic! Not exactly what I would class as a 'hands off flyer', although will fly hands off when trimmed right and without gusts. Don't get me wrong, it did everything fairly well, if not a little boring, with no real surprises in the stall either, which was a big plus for this type. To me, this little Jabi is a pleasure to fly. The main noticeable bad behaviour that it has (in my opinion/experience) is that the rudder command is very minimal - a lot of ruder (sometimes opposite to what you may expect when holding bank) is needed in turns to keep them balanced!! This is an aircraft that you MUST use rudder to balance the turn - there is a LOT of induced yaw when banking! But once that is mastered, very balanced turns are easily achieved. For those who are more accustomed to larger and heavier GA aircraft, the amount of rudder needed does come as somewhat a surprise...but you quickly get used to it.
After spending some time in the training area of YBLT getting accustomed to the general flying characteristics of this aircraft, I decided to head into the airfield to practice landings...
The first landing that I tried, I remember feeling somewhat confused as to which ruder was needed to keep it straight, as it seemed to be unpredictable near the ground and especially after reducing power in the flair. It took me around 1 hour or so to feel some what comfortable with this a/c - but the landings never were very impressive at all, especially if any variable wind was present. I guess if you flew this aircraft a lot this would be vastly improved...In general though, this is quite a good little a/c that cruises at around 100kts...but unfortunately, lands like a drunken dinosaur!!
 I only did around 6 hours on this a/c before not wanting to fly it again...the main issue that I have with this a/c is that the moment arm is very short and the tail is too small (with the rudder being even smaller) - giving very little effectiveness at lower speeds (landing configuration), making this a/c a little bit of a hand-full to land! I do know that Jabiru have worked very hard at improving this design with the SP model and now the latest J120 model(see my review on the J120). It is a good aircraft for cruising at very low cost, but just not my cup of tea.
I'm really sorry to have to report this, but I only give the Jabiru LSA - 55 for its type, six out of ten. A average all-round aircraft, does what it was designed to do, but a little small and a touch "edgy/quirky" for me (just my opinion).
Positives - Inexpensive to buy and to run - it has good economy @ <15lts per hour, and a good cruise speed of around 100kts. All composite - no rust/corrosion issues to worry about. Good solid reliable 4 cyl 2200cc engine.
Negatives - Very small; throttle is located under seat between legs (a little weird for me); not very stable in landing configuration; not enough rudder. Doesn't really have 'the looks' of other similar types, and is (reportedly) quite boring to look at. Fuel tank behind seats inside of cabin.
Although, not a bad a/c for around $40-$50,000AU (2008), but definitely not my cup of tea...The Jabiru 55 is probably one of the worst recreational aircraft I have flown to date - I am sorry to report that I did not enjoy flying this a/c very much at all. I will also add however, that with hours and experience on type it is quite a 'tame-able' aircraft - However, the newer J160 is completely another story...(see my review on the J160 for further details) and certainly the evolved virsion of the LSA-55, the J120, is a different kettle of fish all together (see my review on the J120).
I know that there are die-hard fans of the LSA-55 and thats okay, it sure does suit different people differently. This Review is just an over view and my personal thoughts, not a hard and fast rule. I do hope that this review has been helpful or at least interesting to read, and I ask that you also seek another or even your own opinion and experience on this aircraft.
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