The next Jabiru models were the SP and the UL. The SP was a longer fuselage version of the SK with a smaller ventral fin, and the UL was a longer wing version of the SP to give a lower stalling speed to meet UK and European microlight regulations. Both models had the 2200 cc Jabiru engine of 80 HP. We have had three SP models and 2 UL models in New Zealand (with another aircraft that was painted with a registration but was never registered).
SP Model ZK-JLM (c/n 327) was built by John D Lowther of Timaru and was first registered to him on 4/12/00. On 18/2/03 it was sold to the Pringil Syndicate of Dunsandel, with whom it is still current. The above photo was taken on 17/2/03.
UL-T (for Taildragger) Model ZK-CJP (c/n 520) was built by Craig J Pilcher of Timaru and was first registered to him on 03/5/02. On 19/10/05 it was sold to RB (Bob) Wagner of Nelson, then it went to SA (Stan) Hyde of Feilding on 27/1/06, and to PR and CR Hayward of Rangiora on 16/9/16. It is photo'd above at Rangiora on 27/5/07.
Finally it was sold to PJ (Peter) Carl of Hamilton with whom it is still current. It is photo'd above at Silverdale at the start of a Northern Microlight Club rally on 14/4/12, and you can see that it now sports small winglets.
SP Model ZK-WBA (c/n 503) was built by members of the RNZAF Base Woodbourne Aviaition Sports Club. It was first registered to them on 17/5/02 and is still in their ownership. It is photo'd taxying in at the 2009 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton.
UL Model ZK-LEI (c/n 574) was built by Murray Woods of Marton and was first registered to him on 6/4/04. It is photo'd above at a flyin at Te Kowhai in March 2005.
It was sold to S Amstad of Christchurch on 18/1/13 and is photo'd above taxying in at the 2013 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton. It also now has the winglets. On 27/4/14 it was sold to GD Hawkins of Kurow with whom it is still current.
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SP Model ZK-JJR (c/n 506) was built by Ashley R Johnston and was registered to the Kintore Trust of Sheffield on 19/4/12. It is photo'd above at Ashburton on 6/5/12 before its first flight there on 1/6/12.
And here it is photo'd at the 2013 SAANZ flyin at Ashburton where it now has trim applied and is named "Spirit of Kintore".
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Somewhat of a mystery aircraft is what appears to be a SP or UL Model which is painted as ZK-KJH and was photo'd at Timaru on 19/10/02. It has never been officially registered - does anyone out there know anything about it?
Hi Dave, in regards to WBA, that was close to the last time that Aircraft was flown. The Command at Woodbourne decided they wanted the little Jabiru out of their Hangars and off Base after I retired from the Air Force in 2010, so it was dismantled and removed to a friend's hangar at Omaka until mid way through last year when a new Base Commander made enquiries and had it returned to Base. Sadly though, it still languishes in a Storage Garage in pieces unable to be flown. There have been a number of Students who would have loved to have got the Aviation Sports Club going again, but without a Hangar to store the aircraft in Flyable condition, it becomes a difficult if not impossible pipe dream, so the otherwise serviceable plane sits gathering dust. I was the last to fly it in December 2009.
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