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| Jasper's Aircraft 5 Jodel D120 |
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 There are few aircraft that do all things well, as aircraft design is all about compromises - you can't have a dazzling cruise and a low stall, economy and high carrying capacity, etc, etc. But the Jodel manages to do just about as good as you can get. She's docile to fly, stalls low, has a 110 MPH cruise, climbs well and will carry two people, a five hour load of fuel and a bit of baggage on 20 litres per hour. Stable, too, and comfyish on long journeys. Visibility is as good as you can get in a low-wing aeroplane as she flies very nose-low, so an expansive view out the front, something that is not always available in aircraft. Jodels are easy to maintain, too, and well-supported for spares. So why did I sell her? Good question. I had recently lost the Tiger Moth (see previous page) and since I could never afford a Tiger on my own, I decided to go for something with more vintage appeal and a high wing, which I've always enjoyed, as there is nothing quite like it for watching the ground slide away beneath you. The large wing on the Jodel obscures the ground, and is hopeless for aerial photography, which I love. I sold it to a gentleman in Wales, where the aircraft still resides. |