In The Beginning - 2003

Jodel Project | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Q&A

September 2003

Ordered a set of plans and building instructions for the D150 Sky Prince from Frank Rogers of Sydney. Thirty five separate pages arrived!

October 2003

The plans arrived and I met with Bob Furness who owns the Camden Haven airfield (YCMH)on the NSW Mid North Coast. He built a Jodel in the early 1990s. I joined the SAAA Builder Assist program, made contact with Terry Ryan, a potential technical counsellor from SAAA, and completed the pre-assembly of the rudder

November 2003

I talked with Terry Ryan and met with Bob Furness to check Rib #1 Rudder and to inspect his Jodel 150. Ordered the nuts and bolts for Sheet 8 from Aircraft Parts & Equipment (APE). I also met with Ole Hartman, a local man who builds metal ultralights.

I completed the construction of the fin and rudder, completed and drilled the hinges and ordered the nuts and bolts for Sheet 14 from APE. I also started to research the Subaru engine 130-150hp and contacted Chris Falconar of Falconar Aviation in Edmonton Canada about plans for the spring undercarriage and bubble canopy.

No further news from Terry Ryan.

December 2003

I commenced work on the tailplane, followed up with Falconar Aviation about the canopy and undercarriage legs and investigated panel and engine options.

Met with Frank Rogers in Sydney, inspected a Minicab GT 201 at Kempsey (see picture of canopy), compiled a list of 27 Jodels in Australia and constructed a 4.8 metre workbench and the tailplane ribs and spar.