Fisher FP-404: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Canadian homebuilt light aircraft}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} |
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{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2022}} |
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{|{{Infobox |
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin |
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| name=FP-404 |
| name=FP-404 |
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| image= |
| image=Fisher_FP-404_I-9598.jpg |
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| caption= |
| caption= |
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}}{{Infobox |
}}{{Infobox aircraft type |
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| type=[[Kit aircraft]] |
| type=[[Kit aircraft]] |
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| national origin=[[Canada]] |
| national origin=[[Canada]] |
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| status= |
| status= |
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| primary user= |
| primary user= |
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| number built=355 (2011)<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /> |
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| number built=350 (2004)<ref name="KitplanesDec2004">Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref> |
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| developed from= |
| developed from= |
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| variants with their own articles= |
| variants with their own articles= |
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The '''Fisher FP-404''' is a |
The '''Fisher FP-404''' is a Canadian single-seat, [[conventional landing gear]], single-engined [[biplane]] [[kit aircraft]] designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in [[Edgeley, North Dakota]], [[United States|USA]] but the company is now located in [[Woodbridge, Ontario]], [[Canada]].<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2004">Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 161. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 47. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-23 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="FisherFP404">{{cite web|url = http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22|title = FP-404 |accessdate = 2009-10-19|last = Fisher Flying Products|authorlink = |year = n.d.}}</ref> |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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The FP-404 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the [[United States]] in 1984 and was the company's first design that was too heavy for the US [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] category, with the category's maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight. The 404's standard empty weight is {{convert|275|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} when equipped with a two-stroke {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engine, putting it into the US [[homebuilt aircraft|experimental-amateur-built category]], although it qualifies as an ultralight in other countries, such as [[Canada]]. The design goal was to provide a nostalgic aircraft reminiscent of the biplanes of the 1930s, as the company explains "The FP-404 represents a reborn era in airborne adventure. This bi-plane aircraft is a throw-back to seat-of-the-pants flying, complete with minimal instruments and bare-necessity controls."<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /> |
The FP-404 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the [[United States]] in 1984 and was the company's first design that was too heavy for the US [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] category, with the category's maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight. The 404's standard empty weight is {{convert|275|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} when equipped with a two-stroke {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engine, putting it into the US [[homebuilt aircraft|experimental-amateur-built category]], although it qualifies as an ultralight in other countries, such as [[Canada]]. The design goal was to provide a nostalgic aircraft reminiscent of the biplanes of the 1930s, as the company explains "The FP-404 represents a reborn era in airborne adventure. This bi-plane aircraft is a throw-back to seat-of-the-pants flying, complete with minimal instruments and bare-necessity controls."<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /> |
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The construction of the FP-404 is similar to the [[Fisher FP-202 Koala]]. The aircraft's structure is entirely made from wood, with the wooden [[fuselage]] built from wood strips arranged in a [[geodesic]] form, resulting in a very strong and light aircraft with redundant load paths. Both the wings and fuselage are covered with doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The wings are [[strut]]-braced with both [[interplane strut]]s and [[cabane strut]]s. The aircraft has no [[ |
The construction of the FP-404 is similar to the [[Fisher FP-202 Koala]]. The aircraft's structure is entirely made from wood, with the wooden [[fuselage]] built from wood strips arranged in a [[geodesic]] form, resulting in a very strong and light aircraft with redundant load paths. Both the wings and fuselage are covered with doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The wings are [[strut]]-braced with both [[interplane strut]]s and [[cabane strut]]s. The aircraft has no [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. The company claims it takes an amateur builder 500 hours to build the FP-404, "using normal household tools".<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /> |
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Early versions of the FP-404 were equipped with the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] in an attempt to keep the aircraft under the US FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' weight limit but the aircraft was found to be under-powered due to its short [[wing span]] and high-drag configuration. Heavier engines, like the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] and {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engines provided adequate power but put the 404 over the category weight limit. These models were designated as the ''Fisher 404 EXP'' to show that they would not qualify for the FAR 103 weight limit.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /> |
Early versions of the FP-404 were equipped with the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] in an attempt to keep the aircraft under the US FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' weight limit but the aircraft was found to be under-powered due to its short [[wing span]] and high-drag configuration. Heavier engines, like the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] and {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engines provided adequate power but put the 404 over the category weight limit. These models were designated as the ''Fisher 404 EXP'' to show that they would not qualify for the FAR 103 weight limit.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /> |
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==Variants== |
==Variants== |
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;FP-404 |
;FP-404 |
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:Single |
:Single-seat, single-engined biplane, initial version equipped with a {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] powerplant for the ''FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles'' category |
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;FP-404 EXP |
;FP-404 EXP |
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:Single |
:Single-seat, single-engined biplane, later version equipped with a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] or {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] powerplant for the US experimental-amateur-built category |
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==Specifications (FP-404 EXP) == |
==Specifications (FP-404 EXP) == |
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{{Aircraft specs |
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{{aircraft specifications |
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|prime units? = imp |
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|ref=Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /> |
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|plane or copter?=plane |
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|jet or prop?=prop |
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|ref=Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /><!-- the source(s) for the information --> |
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|crew=one |
|crew=one |
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|capacity= |
|capacity=265 lb (120 kg), no passengers |
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|length ft= 14 |
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|payload main= |
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|length in= 6 |
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|payload alt= |
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|length m=4.42 |
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|payload more= |
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|span ft=18 |
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|length main= 14 ft 6 in |
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|span in=0 |
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|length alt=4.42 m |
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|span |
|span m=5.49 |
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|height ft=5 |
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|height |
|height in=5 |
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|height |
|height m=1.65 |
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|area |
|wing area sqft= 120 |
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|area |
|wing area sqm= 11.16 |
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|empty weight lb= 275 |
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|airfoil= |
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|empty weight |
|empty weight kg= 125 |
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|max takeoff weight lb= 540 |
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|max takeoff weight kg= 245 |
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|eng1 name=[[Rotax 503]] |
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|loaded weight alt= |
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|eng1 type=Twin cylinder, two-stroke piston engine |
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|useful load main= 265 lb |
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|eng1 number=1 |
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|useful load alt= 120 kg |
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|eng1 hp= 50 |
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|max takeoff weight main= 540 lb |
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|eng1 kw=37 |
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|max takeoff weight alt= 245 kg |
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|cruise speed mph= 72 |
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|max takeoff weight more= |
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|cruise speed kmh=117 |
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|more general= |
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|stall speed mph= 30 |
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|stall speed kmh= 49 |
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|engine (jet)= |
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|never exceed speed mph= 90 |
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|type of jet= |
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|never exceed speed kmh= 146 |
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|number of jets= |
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|climb rate ftmin= 800 |
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|thrust main= |
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|climb rate ms= 4.1 |
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|thrust alt= |
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|wing loading lb/sqft=4.5 |
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|thrust original= |
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|wing loading kg/m2=21.95 |
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|afterburning thrust main= |
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|power/mass=10.8 lb/hp (0.15 kW/kg) |
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|afterburning thrust alt= |
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|thrust more= |
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|engine (prop)=[[Rotax 503]] |
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|type of prop=Twin cylinder, two-stroke piston engine <!-- meaning the type of propeller driving engines --> |
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|number of props=1<!-- ditto number of engines--> |
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|power main= 50 hp |
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|power alt=37 kW |
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|power original= |
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|power more= |
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|propeller or rotor?=propeller |
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|propellers= |
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|number of propellers per engine= |
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|propeller diameter main= |
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|propeller diameter alt= |
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|max speed main= |
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|max speed alt= |
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|max speed more= |
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|cruise speed main= 72 mph |
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|cruise speed alt=117 km/h |
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|cruise speed more |
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|stall speed main= 30 mph |
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|stall speed alt= 49 km/h |
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|stall speed more= |
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|never exceed speed main= 90 mph |
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|never exceed speed alt= 146 km/h |
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|range main= |
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|range alt= |
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|ferry range main= |
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|ferry range alt= |
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|ferry range more= |
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|ceiling main= |
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|ceiling alt= |
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|climb rate main= 800 ft/min |
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|climb rate alt= 4.1 m/s |
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|loading main=4.5 lb/ft<sup>2</sup> |
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|loading alt=21.95 kg/m<sup>2</sup> |
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|thrust/weight= |
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|power/mass main=10.8 lb/hp |
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|power/mass alt=0.15 kW/kg |
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|more performance= |
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|armament=<!-- if you want to use the following specific parameters, do not use this line at all--> |
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|guns= |
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|bombs= |
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|rockets= |
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|missiles= |
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|hardpoints= |
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|hardpoint capacity= |
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|avionics= |
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}} |
}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{aircontent |
{{aircontent |
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<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |
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|see also= |
|see also= |
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|related= |
|related= |
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|similar aircraft= |
|similar aircraft= |
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*[[Murphy Renegade]] |
*[[Murphy Renegade]] |
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*[[RagWing RW2 Special I]] |
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*[[Sorrell Hiperlight]] |
*[[Sorrell Hiperlight]] |
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*[[Stolp Starduster Too]] |
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|lists=<!-- related lists --> |
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|lists= |
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}} |
}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons category|Fisher FP-404}} |
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*[http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22 Official website] |
*[http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22 Official website] |
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*[http://www.taildraggersinc.com/Images/Gallery/FP404/FP-4040008.jpg Photo of FP-404] |
*[http://www.taildraggersinc.com/Images/Gallery/FP404/FP-4040008.jpg Photo of FP-404]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
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{{Fisher Flying Products}} |
{{Fisher Flying Products}} |
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{{Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada}} |
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{{Aviation lists}} |
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[[Category:Canadian ultralight aircraft |
[[Category:1980s Canadian ultralight aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1984]] |
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[[Category:Biplanes]] |
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[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:05, 29 May 2022
| FP-404 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Kit aircraft |
| National origin | Canada |
| Manufacturer | Fisher Flying Products |
| First flight | 1984 |
| Introduction | 1984 |
| Number built | 355 (2011)[1] |
The Fisher FP-404 is a Canadian single-seat, conventional landing gear, single-engined biplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, USA but the company is now located in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Development
[edit]The FP-404 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the United States in 1984 and was the company's first design that was too heavy for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, with the category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight. The 404's standard empty weight is 275 lb (125 kg) when equipped with a two-stroke 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engine, putting it into the US experimental-amateur-built category, although it qualifies as an ultralight in other countries, such as Canada. The design goal was to provide a nostalgic aircraft reminiscent of the biplanes of the 1930s, as the company explains "The FP-404 represents a reborn era in airborne adventure. This bi-plane aircraft is a throw-back to seat-of-the-pants flying, complete with minimal instruments and bare-necessity controls."[3][5][6]
The construction of the FP-404 is similar to the Fisher FP-202 Koala. The aircraft's structure is entirely made from wood, with the wooden fuselage built from wood strips arranged in a geodesic form, resulting in a very strong and light aircraft with redundant load paths. Both the wings and fuselage are covered with doped aircraft fabric. The wings are strut-braced with both interplane struts and cabane struts. The aircraft has no flaps. The company claims it takes an amateur builder 500 hours to build the FP-404, "using normal household tools".[3][5][6]
Early versions of the FP-404 were equipped with the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 in an attempt to keep the aircraft under the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles weight limit but the aircraft was found to be under-powered due to its short wing span and high-drag configuration. Heavier engines, like the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 and 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 engines provided adequate power but put the 404 over the category weight limit. These models were designated as the Fisher 404 EXP to show that they would not qualify for the FAR 103 weight limit.[3][5]
By late 2004 over 350 FP-404s were flying.[2]
Reviewer Andre Cliche said about the design:
The forward view from the cockpit is not the best as it is restricted by the wings and cabane struts. The wing span is very short at 18’. This translates into superb maneuverability and almost non—existent adverse yaw. On the other hand, the short span means that the FP-404 needs more power to sustain altitude and has a relatively high stall speed.[5]
Variants
[edit]- FP-404
- Single-seat, single-engined biplane, initial version equipped with a 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 powerplant for the FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category
- FP-404 EXP
- Single-seat, single-engined biplane, later version equipped with a 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447 or 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 powerplant for the US experimental-amateur-built category
Specifications (FP-404 EXP)
[edit]Data from Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche[2][3][4][5][6]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: 265 lb (120 kg), no passengers
- Length: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Wingspan: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
- Height: 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
- Wing area: 120 sq ft (11.16 m2)
- Empty weight: 275 lb (125 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 540 lb (245 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 503 Twin cylinder, two-stroke piston engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 72 mph (117 km/h, 63 kn)
- Stall speed: 30 mph (49 km/h, 26 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 90 mph (146 km/h, 78 kn)
- Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 4.5 lb/sq ft (21.95 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 10.8 lb/hp (0.15 kW/kg)
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]- ^ a b Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ a b c Downey, Julia: Kit Aircraft Directory 2005, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ^ a b c d e Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 161. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
- ^ a b Kitplanes Staff: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 47. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012
- ^ a b c d e f Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-23 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
- ^ a b c d Fisher Flying Products (n.d.). "FP-404". Retrieved 19 October 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fisher FP-404.