1937 Thruxton Jackaroo C-FPHZ
(Converted DH82A Tiger Moth)

C-FPHZ is one of the rarest aircraft in the world. “T.J.” started life in 1937 as a De Havilland DH82A (British) Tiger Moth and served as an RAF trainer until the start of the Second World War. The airplane was reportedly in France at the start of hostilities and fled back to England just ahead of the advancing German forces - which makes this one of the very few flying aircraft still in existence that actually saw combat during WW2.

"TJ" was used as a training and liason aircraft throughout the Second World War, but after VE day, the plane ended up in storage. In 1958, a group of enthusiasts at Thruxton Aerodrome decided to convert some of the numerous war surplus Tiger Moths into four seat aircraft and the resulting aeroplane was named “The Thruxton Jackaroo.” Some 16 examples were built as well as a variant named the Rollason Jackaroo.

“TJ” was originally converted into a “Jackaroo Crop Duster” for “Colchester Airspray” in England. Owner Brian Witty brought the plane with him to Canada, then sold it to pilots Glenn Norman & Michelle Goodeve. The couple created a “Trans-Continental Air Dash” for old aeroplanes in 1972 and flew the Jackaroo from Mountain View Air Force Base (near Belleville,) to Delta Air Park (just south of Vancouver) on the Pacific Ocean

Later that year, the aircraft was sold to an American collector who promised to restore the aircraft - but when Norman & Goodeve learned the Jackaroo was to be parted out, they contacted their friends Frank Evans & Tom Dietrich - better known as “The Tiger Boys” - and asked if they could help save TJ from the scrap heap. The Tiger Boys purchased the aircraft just THREE DAYS before it was scheduled to be cut apart - then took seven years to restore the aircraft to its current mint condition.

Today, there are only three airworthy Jackaroos in the world - A Rollason Jackaroo in England, a Thruxton Jackaroo in Australia, and the Thruxton Jackaroo you see here today now owned by Tiger Boys Tom and Bob and their partner, Steve Gray.

Thruxton Jackaroo - SPECIFICATIONS

The Thruxton Jackaroo first flew in 1957 and was constructed from a standard Tiger Moth. The fuselage centre section was cut in half longitudinally and the side frames moved further apart by installing new cross frames. A wider undercarriage was added plus extra fairings at the wing root and fuel tank. The nose was extended by moving the engine forward by 8 inches and the rear fuselage also lengthened to add baggage space. The result - a four seat cabin biplane.

PILOT'S NOTES

"The Thruxton Jackaroo is aerodynamically typical of most biplanes of the period (anyone reading this has more knowledge of aerodynamics than the manufacturers of that era). Like the Tiger Moth, the Jackaroo is unstable about its lateral axis and as such, requires constant attention. In addition, its narrow gear helps to ensure that every landing is an adventure, particularly in a crosswind. Powered by the very reliable and sweet sounding Gipsy Major engine, it is very reliable and economical to fly."

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