AussieB1rd Posted June 21, 2016 Posted June 21, 2016 Just wanted to know if anyone has any relevant information on the Boorabee Ultralight, have you flow one, flight handling characteristics, nasty's or nicety's, all pro's and con's, maybe know where there is one. Cheers AB 2
Kyle Communications Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 message Dan3111 on the forum here...he built one and flew it for many years
Kyle Communications Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Infact message Rotax618 on here.....he designed it
Marty_d Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Just wanted to know if anyone has any relevant information on the Boorabee Ultralight, have you flow one, flight handling characteristics, nasty's or nicety's, all pro's and con's, maybe know where there is one.[ATTACH=full]43897[/ATTACH] Cheers AB Certainly a nice looking plane (well that one is anyway!) Layout looks very similar to the Drifter to my untutored eye. 1
AussieB1rd Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 From what I know the original was made using the rear fuselage of a Drifter with new wings and cockpit built for two. then there was another copy of this and think 4 were made possibly 2 still flying Mk1 Shuttle single place where as the Boorabee was a 2 place.
rotax618 Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 I designed and built that aircraft in 1992, 24 years ago. The Mk1 Boorabees flew with a Rotax 503, that paticular aircraft has had at least 3 different engines and the last time I saw it had an HKS engine. That Boorabee has flown thousands of hours. I cannot comment on the condition of that particular Aircraft because I havn't seen it in 20 years. Boorabees are extremely docile aircraft with few if any vices. The Mk1s are really powered gliders without air brakes (better than 12:1 glide) they tend to float so it requires a special technique to spot land them. One of the owners of that Boorabee told me at Narromine that he had flown dozens of different types of aircraft and that the Boorabee was the most pleasurable. 5
AussieB1rd Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 Thanks Rotax618, I believe its in NZ now, it's a lovely little aircraft and a credit to your skills.
billwoodmason Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Robmus on here had one last heard - he may have sold his. It looked very similar to that one and was HKS powered I think. 1
Mick Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 There is one at Rodds Bay just outside Gladstone Qld. It is fitted with a Jab 2.2. When I saw it at Old Station fly in a few weeks ago it was for sale. 1
AussieB1rd Posted June 22, 2016 Author Posted June 22, 2016 When I saw it at Old Station fly in a few weeks ago it was for sale. Can you remember the asking price just for interest, and thanks Mick and Bill
Mick Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 I don't know anything about it but will PM you if I can track down the guys e-mail address.
AussieB1rd Posted June 24, 2016 Author Posted June 24, 2016 Rotax618 how many of these did you build over time, how many where build altogether if built by others, and what is the significance of the dimples in the pod, and then one must ask where did all the molds go for this pod. Looking at the two, Boorabee and Shutle they could be the same if not for those distinctive dimples in the pod so how different were the two craft from one another, you say the shutle is more a glider yet wing profile looks identical.
rotax618 Posted June 24, 2016 Posted June 24, 2016 There were nine Boorabees built in total. I gave the fuselage plug to Dave Donohoe who modified it for a rectangular boom tube. Dave's Shuttle shared the same wing but the boom, tail, undercarriage and controls were vastly different. I built two Mk1 Boorabees then made new molds and simplified the design for the Mk2. I loand the molds to persons I trusted, and gave them the CAD plans at no cost. No more Boorabees were built because it required a great deal of effort on my behalf for builder assistance and it became very difficult to get the 5" boom tube and necessary drawn tubing to build the wing. I still have the molds. 1
facthunter Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Nobody's perfect. Lovely plane . Saw one at Narromine, more years ago than I want to think about. I don't like a Jabiru as a pusher installation. Always thought they are a neat design of sort of Sapphire/ Drifter Genes. . Both of which I like. Nev 1
BJFly Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 There were nine Boorabees built in total. I gave the fuselage plug to Dave Donohoe who modified it for a rectangular boom tube. Dave's Shuttle shared the same wing but the boom, tail, undercarriage and controls were vastly different. I built two Mk1 Boorabees then made new molds and simplified the design for the Mk2.I loand the molds to persons I trusted, and gave them the CAD plans at no cost. No more Boorabees were built because it required a great deal of effort on my behalf for builder assistance and it became very difficult to get the 5" boom tube and necessary drawn tubing to build the wing. I still have the molds. Very interesting, thanks for posting the aircraft's history and pics. 2
Yenn Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 The one seen by Mick at Old Station is resident at Rods Bay. A very nice aeroplane built by the owner who is a bit of a perfectionist. Has a Jab 2.2 with a timber prop, made of a special type of ply with the laminates running mainly in the direction of tension. I know the owner is wanting to sell, but he seems a bit reluctant to get active in advertising it. I just phoned him up and the asking price is $20000. He said he was happy for me to post his phone number here so if you are interested. Talk to Ken on 0749781172. 1
AussieB1rd Posted June 26, 2016 Author Posted June 26, 2016 Boorabee, mark 2 no 7 in the series 150 hours Jabaru powered 2.2 Always hangared $20,000 Extras: Prop copying machine Special tools, for fabric and lots of tools for maintenance. Contact Ken 07 49781172 or [email protected]
AussieB1rd Posted June 26, 2016 Author Posted June 26, 2016 Thanks Rotax618 and Yenn and Ken for putting his lovely well maintained machine up for reluctant sale. The lime green and black is a striking colour scheme
cherk Posted June 26, 2016 Posted June 26, 2016 The lime green and black is a striking colour scheme my computer must be stuffed again...........it shows up as turquoise on white !! Nice looker all the same. 1
AussieB1rd Posted June 26, 2016 Author Posted June 26, 2016 turquoise on white Maybe your right who knows really but as you say nice looker
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