Fisher Super Koala

Super Koala
Role Kit aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Fisher Flying Products
First flight 1982
Number built 105 (2011)[1]
Developed from Piper J-3 Cub

The Fisher Super Koala is a two-seat, high wing, conventional landing gear, single-engined, light kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The aircraft was inspired by the design of the Piper J-3 Cub and strongly resembles that design.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, United States but the company is now located in Dorchester, Ontario, Canada.[2][3][4][5][6]

Development

The Super Koala was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the United States and was first flown in 1983. It has two seats in side-by-side configuration. With its 400 lb (181 kg) empty weight and 830 lb (376 kg) maximum gross weight, the Super Koala was intended for the US homebuilt aircraft category.[3][5][6]

The construction of the Super Koala is unusual for aircraft in its class. The aircraft's structure is entirely made from wood, with the wooden fuselage built from wood strips arranged in a geodesic form, resulting in a very strong and light aircraft with redundant load paths. Like the Cub, both the wings and fuselage on the Super Koala are covered with doped aircraft fabric. The wings are strut-braced and utilize jury struts. The landing gear is bungee suspended and the tail wheel is steerable. The Super Koala has flaps, with brakes optional. The company claims it takes an average amateur builder 500 hours to construct a Super Koala.[3][6]

Engine options are the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine. With the Rotax 503 the gross weight is 740 lb (336 kg) and with the Rotax 582 is 830 lb (376 kg).[1][2][4][3][6]

Specifications (Super Koala)

Data from Manufacturer, Kitplanes, Aerocrafter[2][3][4][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 18 ft 1 in (5.51 m)
  • Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
  • Wing area: 140 sq ft (13 m2)
  • Empty weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
  • Gross weight: 830 lb (376 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
  • Stall speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
  • Range: 259 mi (417 km, 225 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min (5.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 5.92 lb/sq ft (28.9 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 12.96 lb/hp (0.13 kW/kg)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53-54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. ^ a b c d Downey, Julia: Kit Aircraft Directory 2005, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. ^ a b c d e f Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 160. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  4. ^ a b c d Kitplanes Staff: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 47. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012
  5. ^ a b c Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-21 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  6. ^ a b c d e f Fisher Flying Products. "Super Koala". Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2020.