Simviation Forums

Good morning all...

Doug, I know you have a wealth of pictures and information.

Would like to know if you have any:
-information on this aeroplane other than the Link I am including
-pictures
-any still flying

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thruxton_Jackaroo

We had quite the Chew the Rag Session at the Bugsmasher Field the other day about the Jackaroo Aircraft, I still think the Jackaroo was a DeHavilland of Canada Built Tiger Moth, the enclosed cockpit makes me think that...now I have never seen a Jackaroo but there are a lot of similarities to the Canuck Model.

I wonder if there are several of these in the Museums you visit or perhaps one of the Airshows

Enclosed is the Link to the Canadian Tiger Moth showing the Enclosed Cockpit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Tiger_Moth


No rush Doug but I figured if anyone would have a handle on this aeroplane it would be you...

Hi Doug. Yes, I'm familiar with the Jackaroo. They were a common sight at Shoreham Airport when I worked there in the early 1960s. I think several examples were owned & operated by the Wiltshire School of Flying which was based at at Thruxton Airfield in Hampshire where they were manufactured.

From memory the Jackaroo was a converted standard DH.82A Tiger Moth, possibly inspired by but not directly related to the DH Canada version. Ex-RAF Tiger Moths & spare parts were readily available at the time. The conversion basically involved widening the fuselage to make a four seater cabin & adding a canopy. Also wheel brakes & a tailwheel. A couple are still flying in this country. I've seen one recently (at Old Warden I believe) & have photos which I'll look out for you. Others have been reconverted back into Tiger Moths. Meanwhile, I'll have a look round to see what other info I can find.

Doug,

There are versions of the Jackaroo out there for both X and Nine...

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php ... d=51595443

Alan

I found this "Flight" article on the Jackaroo dated July 1957 --> https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200944.html

Thanks for the replies and Link Doug and ViperPilot...

Dave T just sent me this Link:

https://www.intotheblue.co.uk/flying-ex ... -jackaroo/

Another link for you. This one's in Canada. http://www.thescale.info/news/publish/Jackaroo-d-Havilland.shtml
(Note that Rolliston should read Rollason. Rollason Aircraft & Engines Ltd was based at Croydon & Shoreham.)
Also note that G-AOIR retains the original tailskid & presumably is not fitted with wheel brakes.

Lots more photos on the Internet. I can't improve on them. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=thruxton+jackaroo&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjr8s7ilZbQAhUL7hoKHXrTBN8Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=_

Much appreciated Doug, the First Link brought back some fond memories, I flew out of that hangar in the 60s...

They turned all that into a Sports Center several years back, Condos too I suppose.

It is too bad there are not more around, the Moth Line of Aeroplanes built by DeHavilland are fine Aircraft to fly, distinct smell, sound of the wires, engine and rag, tube or wood built...back to basics...real stick and rudder aeroplanes.

Thanks for your time again Doug...

There's some sort of minor controversy surrounding the perception of the Jackaroo being of Canadian origin in name. It seems that the Tiger Moth, being the RAF's initial trainer used during WWII in the cold climes of Canada. (Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). Tiger Moths produced in Britain and Canada were used along with Stearman bi-planes before advancing to Harvard trainers. Tiger Moths produced in Canada were fitted with "greenhouse" style cockpit canopies and a flying example is located (amongst others) at the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, BC. The controversy arises due to the similarity in looks to the Thruxton Jackaroo identified in this subject. As you see, the 'planes are similar yet quite different.



You could insult the museum curators by referring to this venerable trainer, as a Jackaroo. Having said that, I am witness to the existence of such Tiger Moths in Britain, no less as being promoted as a Jackaroo. Aha, you say, mayhap you too have seen such. So thank you Doug et al for this expansion.

logjam wrote:You could insult the museum curators by referring to this venerable trainer, as a Jackaroo. Having said that, I am witness to the existence of such Tiger Moths in Britain, no less as being promoted as a Jackaroo. Aha, you say, mayhap you too have seen such. So thank you Doug et al for this expansion.

Thanks logjam. The Canadian version of the Tiger Moth was designated DH.82C. According to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum "The Canadian built DH.82C differed from the British DH.82A in a number of ways, which included; a jettisonable cockpit canopy, cockpit heating, wheel brakes, a tail wheel and a more powerful engine." http://www.warplane.com/aircraft/aircraft-history.aspx?aircraftId=14
I've never seen one & I'm not aware of any ever being in the UK.

I found a couple of photos I took at Old Warden in 2011. I believe this one (G-AOIR) was the single example converted by Rollasons & the last Jackaroo produced. It was first registered in January 1956.

Nice research Doug. You can see how vastly different the Jackaroo was to a tiger moth alright. I'm not sure now since my memory is not what it was, but as an air cadet in the late '50's, I attended the Kings cup air races at Coventry, either saw a Jackaroo there or a DH82c. All my life, I have thought it was a Canadian Tiger Moth and called a Jackaroo, now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'll have to make a trip to Langley with a case of beer. http://canadianflight.org/content/dh-82c-tiger-moth-0

It's interesting to see how many variants came out of the basic Moth design; Jackaroos, Tiger Moths, the Fox, Leopard & Hornet Moths... all leading up to the Chipmunk!

Alan

Wonderful information and replies from all of you...many thanks...