Thruxton Jackaroos

Carrying the registration ZK-PHZ (but not actually registered until today) this one started life as Tiger Moth N6907 before emerging as Jackaroo G-AOIO back in 1958, then was exported to Australia in 1978.
Probably not in the best of condition at that time, as it was logged as ‘under rebuild’ on arrival.

Nice to hear that this Jackaroo has been restored. I’ve seen mention of it a few times lately in Scottish Air News  (SCAN) issues from the 1970s. It belonged at the time to Paul Gliddon and took up residence with him at Aberdeen (Dyce) on 17/5/74 ,and later Inverness, staying in Scotland till being sold to Australia almost 4 years later.

I’m not sure if the Jackaroo ever flew at Aberdeen though as one of the first comments in SCAN was that it was having C of A work done and this was within a couple of months of it arriving. Six months later it is described as being “in pieces – fuselage at Dyce. Wings at Strathallan for re-covering.” By March 1977 they were reporting that she was being “re-converted to Tiger Moth using parts of G-ANMO and possibly G-AOIP” and a month later that the top wings had made their way to Kilkerran in Ayrshire. She was sold and left Inverness 27/2/78.

Well done to the current owner on completing her restoration 🙂

Retired aircraft engineer and long-time Tiger Moth owner/rebuilder John Pheasant rolled out his Jackaroo rebuild into the public eye at the Tauranga  ‘Classics of the Sky’ event last weekend.

Carrying the registration ZK-PHZ (but not actually registered until today) this one started life as Tiger Moth N6907 before emerging as Jackaroo G-AOIO back in 1958, then was exported to Australia in 1978.
Probably not in the best of condition at that time, as it was logged as ‘under rebuild’ on arrival.

Presumably this never happened, and John imported the remains minus the wings, which had got used up elsewhere.

The fuselage has now been restored, and the wings fitted are off John’s current Tiger Moth, ZK-BFF.
The colours are reminiscent of his previous Tiger ZK-AIA.
I understand that the Jackaroo is yet to fly in NZ.

I my memory serves me correctly, the ‘Roo’s tank was larger than the Tiger’s one.
Other oddities with the ‘Roo, was the slat locking lever, positioned on the cabane strut outside the starboard window. These levers were reputedly off defunct WW2 fire extinguishers.
In my time, ‘OIR had, frankly, a clapped out engine. Most engine runs were protracted event, necessary to burn the oil off one or more spark plugs. It was not deemed good practice to replace duff plugs, so they were removed, driven into Old Warden village to the home of one Geoff Wilderspin, who cleaned them with petrol and rags. This rudimentary “service” usually lasted 2 or 3 flights before rough running developed again.
On one flight from Old Warden I was stooging around when I spotted Chris Morris in his Cub and, as was the practice of the day, I shut the throttle and dived down to intercept. On the way down I periodically opened the throttle to keep the engine warm. At about 1500 feet when I opened up, it was apparent that only 3 of the 4 cylinders were actually functioning 😮 A return to base was called for. All was going well, until I spotted a Cessna 172 doing a straight in approach to the short uphill runway, rather than a circuit. I slotted in behind him, but thought, “hold on, he’s got jolly nice disc brakes, I’ve got none, just the skid to slow the ‘Roo down on dry grass”. Not wanting to upset the other group members, running up the chuff of the 172, I elected to land in the long grass beside the runway. This I did, without further drama, though I did have to explain the reason for my actions to David Ogilvy…

Leif Look at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/ and also several threads on the main site here.

I seem to remember that Newark Air Museum years ago (Neville F days) had an uncoverted Jackaroo fuse which was going to be made back into a Tiger….could this have become their G-MAZY ???????

Or what happened to it ? I provided a Neville with a top wing fuel tank which came from a scrapped 86(F) ATC Sqn Tiger Moth.

I flewG-AOIR as a member of the Stevenage Flying Group in the 1980’s, initially from Old Warden, where it lived in the blister hangar and then from Little Gransden after Shuttleworth evicted all privately owned aircraft.
G-APAL, was another ‘Roo that the Stevenage Flying Group owned, until it’s demise at the strip at Duck End Farm, Wilstead, during a low pass over the strip, when it hit a power line. It was subsequently re-built as a Tiger Moth, though a lot of it’s original parts found their way into G-AOIR.
Here’s a few pics taken in the dim and distant. All are scan’s and I accept no responsibility for the quality!

leif: there was only 1 Rollason Jackaroo. Norman Jones/Tiger Club bought Wilts. No.3 G-ANZT after it was offered for sale at Shackleton’s Sales Weekend, Kidlington, 4/58. Wilts No. 7 G-AOIV went off to LV-, 8/59. From Rollason’s store of unconverted Tigers G-APOV was seen by me at Croydon undergoing first and only conversion, 2/5/59.

G-AOEY went to Nigeria.
G-APAO was ex-R4922.
Unconverted hulk G-APRC was last reported as a hulk at Fairoaks in 1969.

Thank you for this quick response! I have included it in the list. Now there’s only one more candidate (G-AOIV) for a possible third Rollason build. If we get that photo as well, we could establish whether there were in fact any other Rollason conversions than G-APOV and G-ANZT.

– L.

PS. For the ignoramus among us, who or what is DCW; and where, if possible, could one access that resource?

Pic of G-AOIT, is it one from DCWs excellent collection?…….credit anyway to copyright owner

Complete list of 19 Jackaroos, only one photo missing

Searching for information about the Thruxton Jackaroo, I finally ended up in this excellent thread. Since the information provided here was so useful, I thought i would add to the list published earlier by Ollie.

My sources for this collated list are:
• Airport-data
• Air-Britain
• The Ron Smith collection
• This thread, post by Ollie
• Internet searches for respective registrations

The composite list of 19 Jacaroos, including two Rollason builds, contains more complete information than any of the above. Bold means photo found on the web & linked to; only one still missing!:

G-ANFY – C/n: 86349 – C of A: Feb 13, 1958 – Ex: NL906
1961 & 1962 photos from Thruxton EGHO

G-ANZT – C/n: 84176 – C of A: Nov 22, 1957 – Ex: T7798
Rollason built. Ca 1963 photo from Redhill EKGR.
Photo collections: Air Britain, Airport-Data, Airliners.net, Jetphotos.net, Airplane Pictures.

G-AOEX – C/n: 86483 – C of A: Jul 11, 1957 – Ex: NM175
1958 photo from White Waltham. 1961, 1962, 1964 photos from Thruxton EGHO. Prototype. Flew for the first time on March 2, 1957.

G-AOEY – C/n: 85899 – C of A: Jul 11, 1957 – Ex: DF150
The first crop sprayer. Featured in Pathé film, and in Flight review. Became VR-NCY (Hongkong).

G-AOIO – C/n: 82151 – C of A: Jul 15, 1958 – Ex: N6907
Ca 1957 photo Lydd, Kent. 1963 & early 1960s photos Blackpool (Squires Gate) EGNH. Sold to Australia in 1978.

G-AOIR – C/n: 82882 – C of A: Dec 12, 1957 – Ex: NL906/R4972 (?)
1961 photo from Thruxton EGHO. 1974 photo Hatfield. Now at Baxterly Aerodrome; owner Ken Broomfield.
Photo collections: Air-Britain, Airport-data, Jetphotos.net, Airliners.net.

G-AOIT – C/n: 83190 – C of A: Nov 14, 1958 – Ex: T5465
Early photo (post below in this thread). Withdrawn from use (wfu) 1973.

G-AOIV – C/n: 85146 – C of A: Oct 27, 1958 – Ex: T6917
Sold to Buenos Aires 1959

G-AOIW – C/n: 85147 – C of A: Apr 23, 1959 – Ex: T6918
1961 & 1962 photo Thruxton EGHO. Crashed at Thruxton 1964.

G-AOIX – C/n: 83472 – C of A: Mar 20, 1958 – Ex: T7087/T6718 (?)
Originally made by Morris Motors. 1958 photo from White Waltham. 1960 photo from Oxford. 1962, 1964 & 1968 photos from Thruxton EGHO. Photos from David Withworth Flick’r stream. Reconverted to Tiger Moth G-BPAJ 1980.

G-APAI – C/n: 85838 – C of A: Dec 30, 1957 – Ex: DE978
1959 photo Thruxton EGHO.

G-APAJ – C/n: 83314 – C of A: Jun 5, 1958 – Ex: T5616
1966 photo Thruxton EGHO. Others from 1977, 1978. Sold to Australia as VH-KRK 1978; restored to UK 2004 as G-APAJ.

G-APAL – C/n: 81102 – C of A: May 15, 1959 – Ex: N6847
1963 photo Blackbushe EGLK. 1967 photo Old Warden. Restored to Tiger Moth 1984, in RAF yellow training colour, and reg. N6847.

G-APAM – C/n: 3874 – C of A: Oct 29, 1959 – Ex: N6580
Sheila Scott’s “Myth”. Early photo. 1960 photo Fairoaks EGTF. 1961 & 1966 photo Thruxton EGHO. Also owned by R.P. Williams, see 1980, 1982 photos. Reverted to Tiger Moth 1984-87

G-APAO – C/n: 82845 – C of A: May 1, 1959 – Ex: R5136
1961 photo Thruxton EGHO. 1975 photo Northampton Sywell EGBK. Apparently reverted to Tiger Moth.

G-APAP – C/n: 83018 – C of A: Sep 11, 1959 – Ex: R4922
Sold as scrap in 1954, but restored in 1957 to become a Thruxton Jackaroo. 1962 photo Thruxton EGHO. Reverted to a Tiger Moth in 1986. Crashed 1994, restored as R5136.

G-APHZ – C/n: 82168 – C of A: Jul 8, 1958 – Ex: N6924
1958 photo Thruxton EGHO. 1959 airspray photo Biggin Hill, 1968 photo Thruxton.. Sold to Canada as CF-QOT, 1972 photo, “T.J. Throgmorton” on cowling. Now C-FPHZ with Tiger Boys.

G-APJV – C/n: 83850 – C of A: Jan 30, 1959 – Ex: T744
Original built by Morris Motors. 1961 photo from Denham EGLD. Overturned taxying at Rhoose 1960. Noted as stored.

G-APOV – C/n: 83012 – C of A: n.d. – Ex: R5130
Rollason built. Tiger Club. 1960 photo Tiger Club at Redhill. Crashed 1961.

Registrations not used:

G-ALIV – C/n: 84673 – Ex: T6247

G-APAK – C/n: 84286 – Ex: T7992
Sold unconverted 1969 or later to become Tiger Moth VT-DOF

G-APRB – C/n: 3971- Ex: N6667
Abanoned in build, reduced to spares

G-APRC – C/n: 84489 – Ex: T1897
Abanoned in build. Lost.

G-APSU – C/n: 3879 – Ex: M6585
Abanoned in build, reduced to spares

G-APSV – C/n: 85590 – Ex: DE636
Abanoned in build, reduced to spares

Leif

A few photos of some Jackaroos with G-APAL and G-APAO before reconversion.

Had my first flight as a 7 year-old in G-AOIR back in 1975 from Old Warden with Maurice Brett piloting. I’ve got a photo of me on landing with a grin so wide that not even the cockpit can contain it!

In the 1970s, my father worked with Maurice for many years on the East Anglian Aviation Society’s attempted rebuild of Magister G-AKPF. Every Sunday morning Maurice always made time for me even though I must have been in the way more often than not.

By coincidence I’m currently reading Maurice’s book ‘ A Sunday Flyer’ and would recommend it.

Fond memories of both Maurice and the Jackaroo.

Maurice Brett was my boss at the British Aircraft Corporation site at Stevenage in 1977! He was an IT Finance Systems Manager. I wish I had persuaded him to take me up in his Jackaroo then.

The Jackaroo was said to be the only aeroplane that ‘climbed’, ‘cruised’ and ‘crashed’, all at 60 knots.;)

I think you will find the Aeronca 100/C3 was reputed to do the same.

As regards Thruxton I remember the big black ex-wartime hangar, filled witrh Jackaroos, Tigers, Proctors and the like, with its all-pervading aroma of aircraft dope.

I made several visits there in the late 1950s/early 1960s and also recall the production shed and seeing what I believe were the last three Jackaroo conversions on the line, G-ALIV, G-APAK and G-APRB, although of course none of these ever proceeded through to final completion.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Had my first flight as a 7 year-old in G-AOIR back in 1975 from Old Warden with Maurice Brett piloting. I’ve got a photo of me on landing with a grin so wide that not even the cockpit can contain it!

In the 1970s, my father worked with Maurice for many years on the East Anglian Aviation Society’s attempted rebuild of Magister G-AKPF. Every Sunday morning Maurice always made time for me even though I must have been in the way more often than not.

By coincidence I’m currently reading Maurice’s book ‘ A Sunday Flyer’ and would recommend it.

Fond memories of both Maurice and the Jackaroo.

Great Stuff!

In 1961 I had the pleasure of flying several Jackaroos at Thruxton while I was training for my PPL! We also flew some of the Tiger Moths for training to recover from spins, etc :dev2: !
Have to admit that the ’60kts’ comment is all too true!
Also, compared to the Tiger Moth, the response to the controls of the Jackaroo were really sluggish 😮 !
thetexpat

just watched G-AOIR take off from a field of sheep at Shrugborough Hall on Sat

The Jackaroo was said to be the only aeroplane that ‘climbed’, ‘cruised’ and ‘crashed’, all at 60 knots.;)

G-AOIR below flying at Little Staughton Airshow last year, I looked in G-INFO and the last registered owners live in Atherstone.

Keith.

That’ll be Atherstone, Warwickshire – or more precisely Baxterley where owner Ken Broomfield has his own strip. He flies it fairly regularly.

For Baxterley and their up-and-coming fly-in go to
http://merlinplastics.co.uk/wingsandwheels/aircraft.html

Roger Smith.

Oops! Not even a typo.

Thanks for the correction, Adrian!

Seems several posters have made that mistake and it would be rooed of me not to point it out for historical accuracy!

ollie,

Have found this, not sure how accurate or up to date it might be. Hope it helps. http://www.brugier.com/n_5n.htm

Planemike

The links to the text files seem to work fine but not the link to the page(s) i am interested in.

Ive found a Nigerian CAA website but it doesnt seem to work. Does anyone know of another source?
http://www.ncaa.gov.ng/

ollie,

Have found this, not sure how accurate or up to date it might be. Hope it helps. http://www.brugier.com/n_5n.htm

Planemike