Modern. Light. Sport.
The most efficient way to fly cross-country in Texas.
120 knots true. 5 GPH cruise. 35.4 gallons usable. Six-plus hours endurance. Sport pilot eligible — no medical, no BasicMed paperwork. The cleanest, most economical way to fly cross-country in the United States right now.
N779J — 2017 Jabiru J230-D
Garmin G3X Touch • 120 HP • 120 kts
The Fuel Math
5 GPH changes everything.
A 9 GPH airplane is a $63-an-hour fuel bill at today's avgas prices. A Jabiru is $35. Over a 100-hour year, that is roughly $2,800 saved against a Warrior and $3,200 against a 172 — the difference between flying and not.
Comparison assumes $7/gal 100LL across all three aircraft. These are fuel costs only. A4 Aviation's Jabiru rates are dry — you buy fuel directly, typically ~5 GPH (and cheaper still on approved ethanol-free auto fuel where available).
Why Modern Matters
Built for how pilots fly today. Not 1978.
| The old way | The modern way |
|---|---|
| 1970s steam gauges | Dual GRT Sport HS glass with synthetic vision |
| No autopilot, or analog wing-leveler | DigiFlight Vizion 380 with altitude preselect |
| Mode C transponder, no traffic awareness | ADS-B In/Out, traffic and weather on the panel |
| 9 to 10 GPH, 100LL only | 5 GPH, factory-approved for ethanol-free auto fuel |
| Third-class medical or BasicMed paperwork | Sport pilot eligible. Driver's license medical. |
| Aluminum airframe baking on the ramp since Carter | Composite. Hangared from new. No UV. No corrosion. |
| Built when fuel was 60¢ a gallon | Built for a $7 gallon world |
Clearing up the confusion
Light Sport is not experimental. And it is not a 1970s Cessna.
A modern factory-built LSA is one of the safest single-engine airplanes a private pilot can fly. Here is what the category actually is — and how it compares on safety to the aging certified trainers most pilots learned in.
Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)
A factory-built airplane certified to ASTM consensus standards adopted by the FAA in 2004. Every LSA is type-accepted by the FAA, manufactured on a production line, and maintained under FAA-approved procedures. It is not experimental, not a kit, and not homebuilt.
S-LSA (Special Light Sport)
What our Jabiru fleet is. Factory-built, FAA-accepted, commercially usable for rental, instruction, and club operations. Maintained by certificated A&P mechanics to the manufacturer's published maintenance manual.
Experimental
A separate FAA category for amateur-built, kit-built, or research aircraft. LSAs are not in this category. Confusing the two is the single most common misconception about modern light sport.
Safety, contrasted honestly
A modern LSA vs. a real-world 1970s Cessna on the ramp today
| The 50-year-old certified trainer | A modern Jabiru LSA |
|---|---|
|
50-year-old aluminum airframe with unknown corrosion history, multiple owners, decades of ramp exposure
|
Composite airframe built this decade, hangared from new, no UV degradation, single owner-operator
|
|
Carbureted engine designs from the 1960s with carb ice as a known killer
|
Modern engine with direct fuel delivery and engine monitor with fuel flow on the panel at all times
|
|
Steam gauges. No traffic. No weather. No synthetic vision. No autopilot to reduce workload.
|
Glass panel with synthetic vision, ADS-B traffic and weather, autopilot with altitude preselect
|
|
Stall speeds and approach speeds set by 1960s certification rules
|
Light Sport stall limit: 45 knots clean. Lower energy in a forced landing. Better survivability.
|
|
Mode C transponder. You see no one. No one sees you on a tablet.
|
ADS-B In and Out. Standard. You are visible to every modern aircraft and ATC display.
|
Bottom line
A factory-built LSA flown by a current pilot, hangared, maintained on schedule, with modern avionics and lower stall speeds, is a safer airplane than a high-time 1970s certified trainer sitting on the ramp. The category is regulated, the airplanes are inspected, and the safety record reflects it.
Why We Fly Jabiru
Three reasons. The same three reasons we say everywhere else on this site.
Modern
Glass panel. Autopilot. ADS-B In and Out. Synthetic vision capable. Built and equipped this decade — not refurbished from a panel that predates the iPhone.
Light
Light Sport rules. 1,320 lbs gross. Sport pilot eligible. No third-class medical. No BasicMed paperwork. Driver's license medical is enough. You can fly tomorrow.
Sport
120 knots true on 5 gallons an hour. Composite airframe. Honest handling. Built to actually be flown — short trips, frequent trips, fuel-conscious trips. The way most pilots actually fly.
Jabiru vs. Traditional Trainers
See how Jabiru stacks up against the aircraft most pilots learn in — and why experienced pilots choose Jabiru for time-building and recreational flying.
| Category | Jabiru J230 | Cessna 150/152 | Cessna 172 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Speed | 115–120 kts | 90–95 kts | 110–115 kts |
| Fuel Burn | 5–6 GPH | 5.5–6.5 GPH | 8–9 GPH |
| Hourly Cost (dry) | ~$150/hr | ~$140/hr | ~$195/hr |
| Avionics | Glass panel standard | Analog gauges | Mixed / varies |
| Airframe Age | 2007–2017 | 1960s–1970s | 1970s–2000s |
| Construction | Modern composite | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Our Jabiru Fleet
Three Jabiru aircraft, each with unique capabilities and modern avionics. All maintained to the highest standards.
Jabiru J230-D
Our flagship with Garmin G3X Touch glass panel, 2-axis autopilot, synthetic vision, and ADS-B In/Out. The most advanced Jabiru in the US rental market.
Engine: Jabiru J3300L Gen 4 — 120 HP
Based at: Hicks Airfield (T67)
Jabiru J250-SP
"Charlie"
Dual GRT Sport HS glass cockpit with DigiFlight Vizion 380 autopilot. A proven, reliable platform for time-building and cross-country flying.
Engine: Jabiru J3300A — 120 HP
Based at: North Texas
Jabiru J230-SP
"Jack"
A well-loved J230 with strong performance and a loyal following among our members. Ideal for local and cross-country flying.
Engine: Jabiru 3300 — 120 HP
Based at: Hicks Airfield (T67)
Modern Glass Cockpit Experience
Our Jabiru aircraft feature state-of-the-art glass panel avionics — Garmin G3X and GRT displays that rival cockpits costing ten times more.
Ready to Fly Jabiru?
Whether you're looking to rent, time-build, or simply experience what modern Light Sport Aviation feels like — we'd love to show you the Jabiru difference. $100/month membership, from $110/hr dry.