Thruxton Jackaroo

[Mick]

No nation has produced more nifty aircraft names than the UK, and one of my favorites is the Thruxton Jackaroo.

We now have an FS9 model of it, courtesy of David Molyneaux.

It's at FlightSim: http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?do=copyright&fid=180189

For those not familiar with the Jackaroo, it's a mid-1950s Tiger Moth modification:

"This aircraft used the main components of the Tiger Moth with a widened enclosed cabin section and a fuselage lengthened front and rear. To accomodate side by side passengers, the seats had to be slightly staggered. The 12.5 inch wider fuselage needed a similarly modified wider undercarriage; an advantage as it improved ground handling. The standard 130 h.p. DH Gypsy Major 1 series engines were retained but fitted with a more efficient metal propeller. The aircraft was designated as a modified DH 82A and named the Jackaroo. In all, 19 were converted. Most were used as trainers and others for various purposes, as glider tows for example."

[Maarten -]

Hi Mick,

Many thanks for the HU! Cannot wait to fly this little gem.

Cheers,
Maarten

[Matt Wynn]

familiar with it? it filed for separation and a restraining order with me :jump:

G-AOIR lives about 7mi from here at Charity Farm/Baxterley, a small strip with a bit of a dogleg runway... there the Jackaroo is used as a bit of a jack of all trades, even being used to fly fuel to the airfield....

i'm off to download and enjoy this gem! :jump:

[Matt Wynn]

in addition this is a timely release as it's chief owner and pilot (and friend of mine) sadly passed away yesterday... a good friend and courteous owner, was always happy to take me up in the 'Roo if he was just keeping current.... sad news but good timing so again, many many thanks!

[kikas]

:applause: Was wondering how testing is going on and its released! Many thanks to Mr. Molyneaux and his team!
:ernaehrung004:

[jackryan172]

I found an interesting article on them:
http://www.tigerboys.com/jackaroo.html

Sean

[Matt Wynn]

yup but there are 2 Jackaroos in England ;)

G-AOIR = The Series Prototype (as i recall)
and
G-ANZT = Rollason type Jackaroo (differentiated by the 'Straight' spine)

[kikas]

I noticed that there is hole in the window where slats switch is, is it some kind of bug, or design feature?
8025

[Mick]

in addition this is a timely release as it's chief owner and pilot (and friend of mine) sadly passed away yesterday... a good friend and courteous owner, was always happy to take me up in the 'Roo if he was just keeping current.... sad news but good timing so again, many many thanks!

Hi Matt,

You have my sympathy on the loss of your friend.

I guess this model will be a nice little virtual memorial to him.

Mick

[Mick]

I noticed that there is hole in the window where slats switch is, is it some kind of bug, or design feature?
8025

Hmmmm... Looks a bit too purposeful to be a bug. My guess is that it's a design feature so the pilot could reach that slats switch. It would be cheaper and easier than making a sliding or hinged panel.

It would let in rain, but I don't suppose many people planned to fly a light aircraft like that through rainstorms.

It would also let in a draft, but I can relate from experience that when you're flying a plane with a lot of glass on a sunny day, you just can't have too much ventilation.

Matt knows the answer. I'll be curious to find out if my guess is correct.

JACKAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matt Wynn]

Kikas that's a feature on the 'Roo... its for the auto slats (on the slatted models) allows the Pilot (or person next to him) to reach out and lock them in position... as your speed decreases the slats drop down as it increases the airflow pushes them up, from there they can be locked easilly and quickly (i can tell you it's not such fun being on a stool checking the underside of one when that lever gets pulled as a joke...)

thanks Mick... already have flown her down to Fairford from it's home just north of Birmingham following the major road network (M42, M5, A417, overhead Fairford Village to Lechlade-on-Thames, before turning for finals). it's a nice memorial... a well done model indeed and brings back plenty of memories....

[Navtech]

Nice ... as usual :applause:

http://i.imgur.com/icV0Hh2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/d6E6ihh.jpg

[kikas]

Kikas that's a feature on the real 'Roo... its for the auto slats (on the slatted models) allows the Pilot (or person next to him) to reach out and lock them in position... as your speed decreases the slats drop down as it increases the airflow pushes them up, from there they can be locked easilly and quickly (i can tell you it's not such fun being on a stool checking the underside of one when that lever gets pulled as a joke...)

thanks Mick... already have flown her down to Fairford from it's home just north of Birmingham following the major road network (M42, M5, A417, overhead Fairford Village to Lechlade-on-Thames, before turning for finals). it's a nice memorial... a well done model indeed and brings back plenty of memories....
And i thought why there should be a hole in front screen, when one can open side window and reach slats switch though there :biggrin-new:
Anyway, if somebody feel that flying with hole in your front screen is a bit too much refreshing, just change GLASS_VC alpha channel to entirely black and there will be clean window with no holes in it.

[Maarten -]

in addition this is a timely release as it's chief owner and pilot (and friend of mine) sadly passed away yesterday... a good friend and courteous owner, was always happy to take me up in the 'Roo if he was just keeping current.... sad news but good timing so again, many many thanks!

Oh no, Matt! I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

Maarten

[Dev One]

Sad news about the owner.
Anyway as far as I'm aware the 'hole' has to be there in the sim so one can mouse click it, I don't think its there in real life.
Keith (Beta tester to DM)

[molyned]

Pleased you like it folks.
Yes, Keith is quite right - you can't control an object (ie. the lever) whilst another object (ie. the screen) is in the way. At least, I couldn't in FS9 hence the 'nearly invisible' hole.
Cheers
Dave M(oly)

[Mick]

I have a couple questions about the Jackaroo.

Dave tells us that he opening in the windshield is necessary in the model for FS purposes, but Matt seems to imply that it's present in the real aircraft too. Is that the case?

What is the correct pronunciation of the name Jackaroo? Is is JACKaroo or JackaROO? (Either way it's fun to say!)

[ViperPilot2]

Matt,

My condolences on the passing of your friend... he will be sorely missed by all.

Appreciate the heads up for the D/L... another fine deHavilland based airplane to make room in the Hangar for!

:applause:

[emfrat]

What is the correct pronunciation of the name Jackaroo? Is is JACKaroo or JackaROO? (Either way it's fun to say!)

The second one is closer to being correct - most Oz names are pronounced with equal stress on each syllable. I hope nobody says 'KANGaroo'':biggrin-new:
The feminine form is Jilleroo.

MikeW

[Mick]

The second one is closer to being correct - most Oz names are pronounced with equal stress on each syllable. I hope nobody says 'KANGaroo'':biggrin-new:
The feminine form is Jilleroo.

MikeW

Thanks Mike ! :ernaehrung004:

JACK-A-ROOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SPman]

in addition this is a timely release as it's chief owner and pilot (and friend of mine) sadly passed away yesterday... a good friend and courteous owner, was always happy to take me up in the 'Roo if he was just keeping current.... sad news but good timing so again, many many thanks!Would this be the esteemed Ken Broomfield? Way too young to go! Condolences

[Matt Wynn]

Would this be the esteemed Ken Broomfield? Way too young to go! Condolences

that would be the Guy, he was a great chap. first met him as an Air Cadet back in 2001/2002 at his Wings and Wheels show... before then i only cared about fast jets and such, but during that show his passion for the older aircraft really rubbed off on me and served as an inspiration, what i do now as a job traces it's roots to that day... I create Aviation Profile Art specialising in Classics (Tiger Moth, Prentice, Chipmunk etc...). went up in the 'Roo a few times and really grew to love the aircraft... (i do plan on maybe one day owning at least a share in one!)

as to that lever it came back to memory... you open the right canopy 'slide' window and reach out and knock it (it's not essential to do so), but that side can also be removed entirely if you are carrying parachutists....

will start recreating Baxterley scenery for FS9 soon :) already have it made in FSX, just have to figure how to 'reverse engineer' it.....

sim handling is pretty nice too on this model, has that slight wanting to go left (but thats a Tiger Moth trait and to be expected, though not as much as the Tiggie due to that bit of extra weight), have already flown repeatedly from Baxterley to Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton) then on to a couple other places before back to Baxterley....

gotta say... Fantastic job by the team on this one! :wavey:

First round is on me all, but gentlemen... tradition comes first... a pint left on the bar, for a friend that is no longer with us! "To Ken, Blue Skies friend!" :guinness:

[Maarten -]

First round is on me all, but gentlemen... tradition comes first... a pint left on the bar, for a friend that is no longer with us! "To Ken, Blue Skies friend!" :guinness:

To Ken!:guinness:

[Dev One]

Matt, I thought the Jackaroo had a problem, when I Beta tested her, for her left turn tendency, but then I found that if she is not exactly wings level that was the problem, in other words she is not quite stable & self righting, bit more like real flying.
I remember way back when I was learning to fly, the instructor handed over control to me, but I didn't hear correctly, so the Tiger flew itself for a few minutes but was gradually turning into an incipient spin area until the instructor woke up again!!! De briefing sorted that out so that one confirmed 'I have control'.
Keith

[peterwatkins2]

Just a bit of fun with this one! Taken in FSX.

[Maarten -]

Just a bit of fun with this one! Taken in FSX.

Hello Peter,

This Roo looks very pretty! Is this paint available somewhere? Britsim or whatever?

Cheers,
Maarten

[peterwatkins2]

Hello Peter,

This Roo looks very pretty! Is this paint available somewhere? Britsim or whatever?

Cheers,
Maarten

Hello Maarten,

I am still finishing the interior but should have it up on FlightSim on Saturday! Started on a Aussie example now!

Peter

[Maarten -]

Hello Maarten,

I am still finishing the interior but should have it up on FlightSim on Saturday! Started on a Aussie example now!

Peter

Great!:applause:

[kikas]

Hello Maarten,

I am still finishing the interior but should have it up on FlightSim on Saturday! Started on a Aussie example now!

Peter

Cant wait, always enjoyed Your repaints! :applause:

[peterwatkins2]

Cant wait, always enjoyed Your repaints! :applause:

Many thanks!
Have now completed and uploaded to FlightSim and should be available tomorrow. I have also uploaded a British example G-APAL. There are seperate files for FSX and FS2004.

[peterwatkins2]

Aussie Jackaroo!

[Maarten -]

Wowser!!! :applause::applause::applause:

[peterwatkins2]

Wowser!!! :applause::applause::applause:

Now available at FlightSim!

[kikas]

Thank You Mr. Watkins, got and installed all of them :applause:

[kikas]

Mr. Watkins uploaded very nice paint of G-AOIO at flightsim! :applause:

[peterwatkins2]

Mr. Watkins uploaded very nice paint of G-AOIO at flightsim! :applause:

Thanks, k!
Have just uploaded a paint of G-APAJ as she was before export to Australia as VH-KRK. Should be available at FlightSim tomorrow.

cheers, Peter W

[Maarten -]

Thanks, k!
Have just uploaded a paint of G-APAJ as she was before export to Australia as VH-KRK. Should be available at FlightSim tomorrow.

cheers, Peter W

Hi Peter,

I just lost words to say how beautiful your repaints are. They are tremendously appreciated, at least by me.

Thanks you so much!

Cheers,
Maarten

[kikas]

Thanks, k!
Have just uploaded a paint of G-APAJ as she was before export to Australia as VH-KRK. Should be available at FlightSim tomorrow.

cheers, Peter W
Sorry to bother, but seems theres G-APAL inside of G-APAJ :jump:

[stuartcox]

:applause: I noticed that this morning, but blamed myself for not installing correctly!

[peterwatkins2]

Sorry to bother, but seems theres G-APAL inside of G-APAJ :jump:

Sorry Guys! In my haste to upload G-APAJ before I went on vacation in Portugal I forgot to put the correct texture file in the FS9 version. The FSX version was OK. Have now uploaded a correction to FlightSim.com

Peter W

[kikas]

:applause: Thank You, cant wait to try it!