Fleet Reference · Aircraft Comparison

    Aircraft Under Evaluation

    Three Light Sport airframes evaluated side-by-side: one current-generation J230-D and two legacy big-wing J250-SPs. All share the aircraft 3300 platform and 1,320 lb aircraft gross — they differ in generation, condition, and best-fit mission.

    Specification
    N779J
    2017 Jabiru J230-D
    Current Production
    N646J
    2008 Jabiru J250-SP
    Legacy · Big Wing
    Registration & Provenance
    Registered Owner
    Candelaria, James
    Arrington, Glenn
    Owner Location
    Ponte Vedra, FL
    Toano, VA
    Owner Type
    Individual
    Individual
    Serial Number
    915
    545
    Airworthiness Date
    2017-09-26
    2008-06-13
    Cert Issue Date
    2024-06-03
    2024-09-20
    Registration Expires
    2031-06-30
    2031-09-30
    Airframe
    Wing Area
    105 sq ft
    High-AR with winglets
    120 sq ft
    Big wing, no winglets
    Aspect Ratio
    9.5 : 1
    7.5 : 1
    Wing Loading (MGW)
    12.5 lb/sq ft
    11.0 lb/sq ft
    Vertical Stabilizer
    Airfoil section
    Flat plank
    Generation
    D-gen refinements — reduced HS incidence
    SP-era
    Weight & Loading
    Empty Weight
    860 lb
    840 lb
    Max Gross
    1320 lb
    1320 lb
    Useful Load
    460 lb
    480 lb
    Powerplant
    Engine
    Jabiru 3300L Gen 4
    Jabiru 3300 (Gen 2/3 era)
    Lifters
    Hydraulic
    Solid (verify upgrade)
    Through-bolt Status
    Factory current
    Verify SB compliance
    Propeller
    2-blade Jabiru composite scimitar
    2-blade Sensenich
    Max Continuous RPM
    2,850
    3,300
    Performance
    Cruise (TAS)
    120 kt
    120 kt
    Stall (Vs0)
    42 KIAS
    45 KIAS
    VNE
    140 KIAS
    138 KIAS
    Climb Rate
    ~1,000 fpm
    ~1,000 fpm
    Range
    ~675 nm (w/ reserve)
    ~800 nm
    Fuel Burn
    5–6 gph
    4.5–5.5 gph
    History & Condition
    History Prop strike 11/01/2019
    Elberton, GA — no injuries. Verify engine teardown and crank NDT records before purchase.
    		 Private use
    Low-utilization private profile. Logbooks and corrosion inspection are the critical diligence items.
    Avionics Modern glass (Garmin G3X / Dynon typical) Steam / partial glass
    Acquisition Est.
    $125K – $165K
    incident-adjusted
    $55K – $75K
    Mission Fit
    Best Mission All-around / Rental Hot & High / Short Field
    Handling Profile Most stable in the lineup; less rudder input required Big-wing feel; floats more on landing
    Diligence Priority
    Engine teardown records
    post-prop-strike
    Corrosion and sit-time inspection

    FAA registry data current as of May 2026. All acquisition figures are estimates pending pre-buy inspection, logbook review, and SB compliance verification.

    N779J
    2017 Jabiru J230-D
    Current Production

    Registration

    Owner
    Candelaria, James
    Location
    Ponte Vedra, FL
    Owner Type
    Individual
    Cert Issued
    2024-06-03
    Registration Expires
    2031-06-30

    Airframe

    Wing Area
    105 sq ft
    High-AR with winglets
    Aspect Ratio
    9.5 : 1
    Wing Loading (MGW)
    12.5 lb/sq ft
    Vertical Stab
    Airfoil section
    Generation
    D-gen refinements — reduced HS incidence
    Empty / MGW / Useful
    860 / 1320 / 460 lb

    Powerplant

    Engine
    Jabiru 3300L Gen 4
    Lifters
    Hydraulic
    Through-bolt
    Factory current
    Propeller
    2-blade Jabiru composite scimitar
    Max Continuous RPM
    2,850

    Performance

    Cruise (TAS)
    120 kt
    Stall (Vs0)
    42 KIAS
    VNE
    140 KIAS
    Climb
    ~1,000 fpm
    Range
    ~675 nm (w/ reserve)
    Fuel Burn
    5–6 gph

    History & Condition

    Prop strike 11/01/2019

    Elberton, GA — no injuries. Verify engine teardown and crank NDT records before purchase.

    Avionics
    Modern glass (Garmin G3X / Dynon typical)
    Acquisition Est.
    $125K – $165K
    incident-adjusted

    Mission

    All-around / Rental
    Handling
    Most stable in the lineup; less rudder input required
    Diligence Priority
    Engine teardown records
    post-prop-strike
    N646J
    2008 Jabiru J250-SP
    Legacy · Big Wing

    Registration

    Owner
    Arrington, Glenn
    Location
    Toano, VA
    Owner Type
    Individual
    Cert Issued
    2024-09-20
    Registration Expires
    2031-09-30

    Airframe

    Wing Area
    120 sq ft
    Big wing, no winglets
    Aspect Ratio
    7.5 : 1
    Wing Loading (MGW)
    11.0 lb/sq ft
    Vertical Stab
    Flat plank
    Generation
    SP-era
    Empty / MGW / Useful
    840 / 1320 / 480 lb

    Powerplant

    Engine
    Jabiru 3300 (Gen 2/3 era)
    Lifters
    Solid (verify upgrade)
    Through-bolt
    Verify SB compliance
    Propeller
    2-blade Sensenich
    Max Continuous RPM
    3,300

    Performance

    Cruise (TAS)
    120 kt
    Stall (Vs0)
    45 KIAS
    VNE
    138 KIAS
    Climb
    ~1,000 fpm
    Range
    ~800 nm
    Fuel Burn
    4.5–5.5 gph

    History & Condition

    Private use

    Low-utilization private profile. Logbooks and corrosion inspection are the critical diligence items.

    Avionics
    Steam / partial glass
    Acquisition Est.
    $55K – $75K

    Mission

    Hot & High / Short Field
    Handling
    Big-wing feel; floats more on landing
    Diligence Priority
    Corrosion and sit-time inspection

    Aircraft Detail

    N779J
    2017 Jabiru J230-D
    Current Production

    Registration

    Owner
    Candelaria, James
    Location
    Ponte Vedra, FL
    Owner Type
    Individual
    Cert Issued
    2024-06-03
    Registration Expires
    2031-06-30

    Airframe

    Wing Area
    105 sq ft
    High-AR with winglets
    Aspect Ratio
    9.5 : 1
    Wing Loading (MGW)
    12.5 lb/sq ft
    Vertical Stab
    Airfoil section
    Generation
    D-gen refinements — reduced HS incidence
    Empty / MGW / Useful
    860 / 1320 / 460 lb

    Powerplant

    Engine
    Jabiru 3300L Gen 4
    Lifters
    Hydraulic
    Through-bolt
    Factory current
    Propeller
    2-blade Jabiru composite scimitar
    Max Continuous RPM
    2,850

    Performance

    Cruise (TAS)
    120 kt
    Stall (Vs0)
    42 KIAS
    VNE
    140 KIAS
    Climb
    ~1,000 fpm
    Range
    ~675 nm (w/ reserve)
    Fuel Burn
    5–6 gph

    History & Condition

    Prop strike 11/01/2019

    Elberton, GA — no injuries. Verify engine teardown and crank NDT records before purchase.

    Avionics
    Modern glass (Garmin G3X / Dynon typical)
    Acquisition Est.
    $125K – $165K
    incident-adjusted

    Mission

    All-around / Rental
    Handling
    Most stable in the lineup; less rudder input required
    Diligence Priority
    Engine teardown records
    post-prop-strike
    N646J
    2008 Jabiru J250-SP
    Legacy · Big Wing

    Registration

    Owner
    Arrington, Glenn
    Location
    Toano, VA
    Owner Type
    Individual
    Cert Issued
    2024-09-20
    Registration Expires
    2031-09-30

    Airframe

    Wing Area
    120 sq ft
    Big wing, no winglets
    Aspect Ratio
    7.5 : 1
    Wing Loading (MGW)
    11.0 lb/sq ft
    Vertical Stab
    Flat plank
    Generation
    SP-era
    Empty / MGW / Useful
    840 / 1320 / 480 lb

    Powerplant

    Engine
    Jabiru 3300 (Gen 2/3 era)
    Lifters
    Solid (verify upgrade)
    Through-bolt
    Verify SB compliance
    Propeller
    2-blade Sensenich
    Max Continuous RPM
    3,300

    Performance

    Cruise (TAS)
    120 kt
    Stall (Vs0)
    45 KIAS
    VNE
    138 KIAS
    Climb
    ~1,000 fpm
    Range
    ~800 nm
    Fuel Burn
    4.5–5.5 gph

    History & Condition

    Private use

    Low-utilization private profile. Logbooks and corrosion inspection are the critical diligence items.

    Avionics
    Steam / partial glass
    Acquisition Est.
    $55K – $75K

    Mission

    Hot & High / Short Field
    Handling
    Big-wing feel; floats more on landing
    Diligence Priority
    Corrosion and sit-time inspection

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