Photograph:
Fletcher FU-24 Stallion VH-EUO (c/n 3002) at Scone, NSW on 3 May 1996 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America / New Zealand / Australia
Description:
Single-seat agricultural monoplane
Power Plant:
One 448 kw (600 shp) Garrett TPE331-6-252 Turboprop
Specifications:
- Loaded weight: (standard) 2,204 kg (4,860 lb)
- Loaded weight: (agricultural) 2,463 kg (5,430 lb)
History:
Since it was introduced to the agricultural industry in the 1950s the Fletcher FU-24 series has seen a lot of development. It first flew in 1954 with a 168 kw (225 hp) Continental O-470 engine and a max-take-off weight of 1,586 kg (3,500 lb). It was imported to this part of the world in large numbers, particularly to New Zealand where production in various forms continued for many years. Subsequent modifications were mainly aimed at increasing power and weight.
The first turbine-powered model was the FU-1060 fitted with a 373 kw (500 shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 engine. The lighter weight of the engine meant the re-design of the forward fuselage, engine mount, dual-wheel undercarriage and strengthened wing, rear fuselage and vertical fin. First of the modified aircraft was ZK-CTZ (c/n 1001).
A second conversion was the FU-1160 fitted with a 395 kw (530 shp) Garrett TPE331 turbine and the first aircraft modified was ZK-BHQ (c/n 2001 – previously c/n 19) which crashed on 13 August 1968.
A third conversion was the FU-1284 which was fitted with a 496 kw (665 shp) TPE331 engine and had major changes to the airframe. First aircraft was ZK-CYY (c/n 2002) registered in November 1969 and withdrawn from service in March 1977. No further examples of this model were produced as the manufacturer and holder of the Type Certificate, Airparts (NZ) Ltd, decided to continue development, which eventually led to the O8-600 Cresco series.
Further development of the series led to the FU-24-900 and FU-24-950 using the 298 kw (400 hp) Lycoming IO-720 piston engine, this development being first carried out by Pays Air Service of Scone, NSW. With this model all-up weight was increased to 2,204 kg (4,860 lb). This model was very successful and became the standard production aircraft at that time. However, the cost of overhaul of the IO-720 engine led operators to look for an alternative and automotive derived engines were trialled. These are dealt with separately.
The first modern turbine conversion of the FU-24-950 was the model known as the Stallion using the Garrett TPE331 turbine, which was approved in Australia and New Zealand. Design of the conversion was by Auto Avia Design and the first New Zealand conversion was carried out by Super Air Ltd. It became known as the Walter Fletcher, the Walter M601D-11NZ engine being installed, flying for the first time in 1998. About 23 conversions were completed.
Super Air then built a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6 conversion with a stretched fuselage which was externally very similar to the Cresco. A similar conversion was produced by Flight Care Ltd of Hawkes Bay, NZ in 2005 which became known as the FU-24-550 Crusader. This aircraft was basically the standard FU-24-950 airframe but with the addition of a dorsal fin. One such conversion was ZK-DDX (c/n 160).