The Fisher Classic is a Canadian two-seat,
conventional landing gear
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft Landing gear, undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the Center of gravity of an aircraft, center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail ...
, single-engined,
biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
kit aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.Armstrong, Kenn ...
designed for construction by amateur builders. The aircraft is a two-seat derivation of the
Fisher FP-404
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 co ...
. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in
Edgeley, North Dakota
Edgeley is a city in LaMoure County, North Dakota, LaMoure County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 585 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census.
History
Edgeley was founded in 1886 by Richard Sykes (rugby union), Richard Syk ...
,
USA
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
but the company is now located in
Woodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a very large suburban community in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, along the city's border with Toronto. It occupies the city's entire southwest quadrant, west of Ontario Highway 400, Highway 400, east of Ontario Highway 50, Highway 50, n ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.
[Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851][Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 161. BAI Communications. ][Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 48. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012][Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-79. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ]
Design and development
The Classic was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in 1987 and was intended to comply with the US ''
Experimental - Amateur-built'' category, although it qualifies as an ultralight aircraft in some countries, such as
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. It also qualifies as a US Experimental
Light Sport Aircraft
A light-sport aircraft (LSA), or light sport aircraft, is a category of small, lightweight aircraft that are simple to fly. LSAs tend to be heavier and more sophisticated than ultralight (aka "microlight") aircraft, but LSA restrictions on weigh ...
. The Classic's standard empty weight is when equipped with a
Rotax 582
The Rotax 582 is a two-stroke cycle, two-stroke, two-cylinder, rotary intake valve, oil-in-fuel or oil injection pump, liquid-cooled, gear reduction-drive aircraft engine manufactured by Rotax, BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG. It is for use in non-ce ...
engine and it has a gross weight of .
The construction of the Classic is of wood, with the wings, tail and fuselage covered with doped
aircraft fabric
Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...
. The aircraft features
interplane strut
In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of struts, which act in ...
s, inverted "V"
cabane strut
In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of struts, which act in ...
s, four ailerons and a semi-symmetrical airfoil. Like the original FP-404 upon which it is based, the Classic has no flaps. The Classic's main landing gear is
bungee suspended. Cockpit access is via the lower wing. The company claims an amateur builder can complete the aircraft from the kit in 500 hours.
The specified engine for the Classic is the Rotax 582 two-stroke engine.
The estimated time to build the aircraft from the kit is 400–500 hours, or 250 hours from the quick-build kit. By late 2011 more than 155 Classics were flying.
Specifications Classic)
See also
References
External links
Official websitePhoto of a Classic
{{Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada
1980s United States ultralight aircraft
Light-sport aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1987
Biplanes
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear
Classic
A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...
Single-engined piston aircraft