Photograph:
Fisher FP-202 Koala 10-0117 (c/n 2254) at Taree, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat light amateur-built sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 31 kw (42 hp) Rotax 503UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled, electronic single-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
- Length: 5.45 m (17 ft 9 in)
- Height: 1.67 m (5 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 11.14 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed: 96 km/h (60 mph)
- Cruising speed at 65% power: 88 km/h (55 mph)
- Stalling speed: 43 km/h (26 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Range: 217 km (135 miles)
- Fuel capacity: 37 litres (8 Imp gals)
- Take-off run: 29 m (95 ft)
- Landing run: 38 m (125 ft)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (250 lb)
- Loaded weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
History:
Fisher Flying Products of Edgeley, North Dakota for some years has produced a range of light kit planes for amateur construction in the ultralight category, and many examples of the series have been built and flown in Australia and New Zealand. Some sixteen designs have been available and most have been fitted with Rotax engines but examples have also been fitted with Limbach and Jabiru engines.
Construction was of geodetic wood to give strength, the wing being strut braced. The construction kit provided pre-cut, shaped and slotted wooden pieces, machined hardware parts, formed fiberglass cowling and aluminium fuel tank, full size plans and a construction manual. It was fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage. The aircraft had a completely enclosed cockpit. A quick build kit was also available which contained prefabricated ribs, spars, wingtip bows, bulkheads, formers, fuselage sides, fin, rudder, horizontal stabilizer and elevator in addition to the other pre-cut and formed parts.
The FP-202 Koala has been advertised as “even at the slowest speeds, the Koala maintains the stable flight characteristics that make for safe, enjoyable flight. Large 8 ft (2.43 m) ailerons provide confident roll control at high speeds, and stall speed is an enviable 26 mph (42 km/h)”.
Aircraft registered in Australia with Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) have included 10-0102, 10-1055 (c/n 1055), 10-0329 (c/n 2153U), 10-0572 (c/n A007), 10-0573 (c/n A006), 10-1316 and 10-3736 (c/n 2390).
The Super Koala was a two-seat variant fitted with a 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503 engine but could be fitted with the 48 kw (64 hp) Rotax 532 engine. It had a higher performance, had detachable wings, and was available in kit form, a quick-build kit also being available.