Photograph:
Fisher Horizon 2 ZK-JQM (c/n AH0025) at Rangitata Island, New Zealand in 2011 (Allan Bowman – NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light amateur-built sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 60 kw (80 hp) Limbach L 2000 EA four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.92 m (26 ft)
- Length: 6 m (19 ft 7 in)
- Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 10.55 m² (113.6 sq ft)
- Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Cruising speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Stalling speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Rate of climb: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Range: 402 km (250 miles)
- Take-off run: 76 m (250 ft)
- Landing run: 76 m (250 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 49 litres (11 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 259 kg (570 lb)
- Loaded weight: 476 kg (1,050 lb)
History:
Fisher Flying Products of Edgeley, North Dakota, has for some years produced a range of light kit aircraft for the amateur constructor, and quite a few examples of the series have been built in Australia and New Zealand. The Company was later relocated to Woodbridge in Ontario, Canada.
Some sixteen distinct designs have been available, including the Dakota Hawk, Classic, Super Koala and Koala, FP-303, FP-404, EXP, FP-505 Skeeter, FP-606 Skybaby, R-80 Tiger Moth (a scale replica of the de Havilland DH.82), Avenger, Avenger V, Horizon 1 and Horizon 2, Celebrity, Youngster and Youngster V.
Most models built in the series have been fitted with Rotax engines and, depending on the model, power ranged from a 19 kw (25 hp) Rotax 277 in the FP-303 single-seater, to the 60 kw (80 hp) Limbach L 2000EA in the two-seat Horizon 1 and Horizon 2.
Construction is usually all-wood, with fabric covering and large numbers have been built around the world.
First of the type registered in New Zealand was ZK-JAH (c/n AACA/2016) at Hastings, followed by ZK-JQM (c/n AH0025).