Photograph:
Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth ZK-LIF (c/n T43) at West Melton, New Zealand (W Mallinson – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light touring and training biplane
Power Plant:
One 75 kw (100 hp) Norton NR642 Wankel type rotary engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.01 m (23 ft)
- Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
- Wing area: 15.79 m² (170 sq ft)
- Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Max cruising speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Stalling speed: 61 km/h (38 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Take-off distance: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing distance: 122 m (400 ft)
- Range: 386 km (240 miles)
- Empty weight: 254 kg (560 lb)
- Loaded weight: 522 kg (1,150 lb)
History:
The Fisher R-80 is an 80 per cent scale replica of the de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth manufactured and marketed in kit form by Fisher Flying Products of Edgeley, North Dakota, later of Woodbridge in Ontario, Canada. Available also in quick-build form, it had the fuel tank in the centre-section, MATCO wheels, and hydraulic brakes as standard. Engines in the 56 kw (75 hp) to 75 kw (100 hp) range could be installed. Construction was of wood with fabric covering. Fuel capacity was 45 litres (10 Imp gals).
The Norton rotary engine sometimes installed in this aircraft was a liquid-cooled single-rotor Wankel engine with dual ignition for light aircraft produced by Mid-West Engines Ltd at Staverton Airport, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom and was also installed in the ARV Super 2. It was produced in a number of models, but the basic units for light aircraft were the AE-50R single-rotor of 294 cc which provided 41 kw (55 hp) at 7,750 rpm; and the AE-75R, also a single-rotor unit, of 404 cc which produced 56 kw (76 hp) at 7,000 rpm.
A small number of Fisher R-80 kits has been imported to this region, one in New Zealand becoming ZK-LIF (c/n TM43) fitted with a Rotax 912S engine registered on 1 February 2007. Three others completed in New Zealand became ZK-LAS (c/n TM18) registered on 29 November 2005 and fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Suzuki engine; ZK-NOX (c/n 17) registered on 31 March 2006 and was fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Suzuki 13B engine; and ZK-JAL² (c/n 22) registered on 26 February 2009 and also fitted with a Suzuki engine. This latter aircraft was constructed whilst the owner/builder was working in Australia. As mentioned these three were fitted with a Suzuki G13B four-cylinder twin-cam engine driving through a Raven redrive unit and had a Simplex digital engine management system.
A further example became ZK-DSW² (c/n MH1978) on 13 April 2016, having been imported from the United States to Kerikeri as a partially completed project and was fitted with an 80 kw (107 hp) UL Power engine with a direct drive to the propeller, the aircraft being covered with Oratec cloth.
An example in Australia became VH-BKS (c/n TM72) in December 2013.
Examples have been registered under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations, becoming 19-5045 (c/n 1) on 3 May 2007 with a Suzuki G13BB engine; 19-7462 (c/n TM55) registered on 29 June 2010 with a Suzuki G-13A engine, wrecked when it crashed into a paddock at Elwomple near Tailem Bend, SA on 10 June 2015; and 19-8602 (c/n TM81) registered on 5 March 2015.