Project Jodel D113 - The Story

What is the story behind the Jodel with the unique registration "SE-XDO"? Join us as we take you back to the very beginning.

If you've read the post "Teresa's Journey: From Grounding to Owning a Plane," you already know the reasons for purchasing an aircraft project. But why a Jodel, and why Sweden? It's a tale filled with coincidences and fortunate twists of fate.

SE-XDO - Jodel D113 in its old home Håtuna (Sweden)

The First Attempt: A Project in "Montenegro Green"

It started with a seemingly perfect opportunity: A Piper PA-22 with a tailwheel conversion, painted in a charming "Montenegro Green," was offered nearby through the classic word-of-mouth channels. However, during the inspection, it quickly became clear that the documentation was unclear, and a complete restoration would be expensive and time-consuming. A sobering realization.

A New Goal: It must be the Swede!

In a conversation with Anders Kjellberg, a friend from Sweden and owner of a Pitts S-1S, came the unexpected suggestion: "Why not a Jodel?" Initially, the idea seemed far-fetched, but it quickly gained appeal. The Jodel, along with the Druine Turbulent, was one of the first aircraft approved for homebuilding in Sweden. Due to its reliability and low operating costs, it was highly valued.

A few days later, he sent me an advertisement for a Jodel D113 – the "SE-XDO."

Armed with a screenshot of the Jodel ad, I confidently approached Chris and presented our new addition to the family. He responded dryly, "No, not a Jodel."

After two days of persistent Jodel promotion and technical arguments, I finally heard, "Hmm... a Jodel?"

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To Sweden - But How?

Thanks to a German airline, it became clear that a spontaneous flight from Munich to Sweden (Arlanda-Stockholm) wouldn't be easy. On Tuesday, ticket prices were around €400 for two people, but by Wednesday, they had risen to €1,200 due to airport strikes. After some research, we opted for the route from Vienna to Stockholm, offered by Ryanair and unaffected by strikes.

A Date with a Jodel named SE-XDO

With excitement and curiosity, we traveled to Sweden. Despite the freezing temperatures, we were warmly welcomed by Magnus Lundström, the owner of the Jodel. Our first encounter with the "SE-XDO" at Västerås airfield was impressive. For an aircraft priced at just around 10,000 euros, its condition was surprisingly good. A wing damage had already been repaired, and we could immediately feel that this aircraft had a unique story and character.

We were captivated and shook the owner's hand on the deal.

Swedish Experimental and a Spitfire in the Garage

Our excitement was high, but we still needed approval from the technical director of the Swedish EAA to operate the Jodel outside of Sweden. So, we quickly arranged a meeting with Sven, who, with his friendly demeanor, wanted to thoroughly assess us.

We knew Sven was working on a special Spitfire project. Upon entering his workshop, we were greeted by an impressive array of tools and a massive CNC machine. Around the corner, we saw a genuine Spitfire under construction - truly remarkable!

Just this experience made the trip to Sweden worthwhile. After some time, Sven finally gave us permission to bring the Jodel to Germany. Back in Germany, we immediately began preparations for the ownership transfer and the relocation.

We knew the Jodel required some work, and Chris helped me create a shopping list. However, one item on the list caused us concern: a new covering.

You can find more about the support from our partners in the post "Official Support from Oratex Lanitz and Fliegermagazin."

For everything about the transfer flight of the Jodel D113 from Sweden to Bavaria, check out the post "A Jodel Moves to Bavaria."