1. What kind of woods are used in the construction of your aircraft?

Sitka Spruce is use for all structural elements such as Longerons, Spar Caps and Compression Struts. Northern White Pine is used for all other structural elements.

Aircraft Grade Finnish Birch Plywood is used for structural elements and areas where thin, flexible ply is required.

Furniture Grade Birch Plywood is used in all other sheeted areas.

2. Which of your models have the folding wing option?

The Dakota Hawk, Horizon 1 and Horizon 2 have the folding wing option. The FP-303 has removable wings that can be stored alongside the fuselage.

3. Can I trailer the aircraft with the folding wings?

The Dakota Hawk is over 11 feet wide with the wing folded and the Horizon 1 and 2 are 10 feet wide. these widths make the aircraft easy to store under the wing of another aircraft in a shared hangar. You will have to check with your local DOT to see if those widths are acceptable on the road.

4. How long does it take to build a wooden airplane?

Build times will vary with the complexity of the aircraft. Biplane vs. single wing ultralight. Aircraft have been built in as little as 500 hrs but the covering and paint tend to add to that substantially. The new Oratex fabric that we sell as a covering option cuts construction time substantially. Typical full aircraft build times are in the 1200 to 1500 hour timeframe.

5. What are the shipping costs for full kits?

Typical shipping costs for our kits are under US $1,000.00 in North America. The furthest we have shipped is to New Zealand and it came to US $1,500.00.

6. Is there duty on aircraft kits entering the United States?

There is no duty on aircraft kits and parts entering the United States under NAFTA.

7. What are the fabric options for your aircraft.

We supply Dacron fabric and Stewart EcoBond fabric adhesive with every kit. You have the option to order the Oratex fabric covering system that is pre coloured. This option is more expensive up front but in the end is about the same in cost as the standard finishing systems and it weighs less.

8. What scale are your plans printed at?

The plans come printed in a variety of scales. The critical plan sheets are printed in full scale so that you can put them under plastic and build the aircraft components right on top of them. Others are for reference and are printed in an appropriate scale to convey the information needed.

9. How inclusive are the kits.

The standard airframe kits are supplied with everything to construct the aircraft except paint, varnish, restraints, instruments, upholstery, engine mount, engine and propeller. The kits include pre-cut, shaped and slotted wood parts - formed, drilled and shaped fittings - all hardware - molded fiberglass cowl (except 303) - fuel tank - full scale plans - fabric and fabric adhesive - wheels and tires. Our kits require NO welding.

10. Can you put floats on your aircraft?

We are working with Puddle Jumper Floats and can put together a float solution for most of our aircraft.

11. Do you offer Quick Build Kits?

We do offer Quick Build kits. They contain everything listed above in question 9 as well as the following pre-fabricated components to shorten your build time. Wing ribs, wing spars, wing tips, fuselage sides, fuselage bulkheads, vertical fin, rudder, horizontal stabilizer and elevator are all pre-constructed. The builder will preform the final tasks of gusseting and final shaping. This will reduce your build time by approximately 200 hrs.

12. What type of glue holds the airframe together?

T-88 Structural Adhesive from System 3 is used to hold the airframe components together. It is the ONLY adhesive approved for the assembly of Fisher Flying Products aircraft kits. This structural adhesive has no life limit with proper interval inspections.

13. What are your current manufacturing lead times?

We are currently able to construct a standard airframe kit in approximately 3 months. We are delivering quick build in approximately 6 months.

14. Do you sell kits outside of North America?

We sell our kits all over the world. We have kits in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, United Kingdom, USA and Zimbabwe.

15. Can I purchase the plans and source the materials myself?

Yes, you are able to purchase the plans from us and source all of your own materials and components.

16. Do you have to make special jigs to build the aircraft?

You do not have to make complicated jigs to put together our aircraft. We do have full size plans for the wing rib jig. This jig is required to put together the wing rib and by constructing more than one of these jigs you will cut your construction time considerably.

17. Do you sell engines for your airframe kits?

We are dealers for Polini, Verner Motor and Hirth. Within the offerings from these 4 vendors there is an engine solution for all of our aircraft models.

18. Do you have models that are Part 103 compliant?

The following models are Part 103 compliant. FP-202, FP-303, FP-505and FP-606

19. Do you supply the welded aluminum fuel tanks?

Yes. We have a talented supplier that welds aluminum beautifully. All tanks are then pressure tested to ensure that there are no leaks. Tanks are supplied with a cap and the builder supplies the plumbing.

20. Can you put skis on your aircraft?

We have had a number of aircraft fitted with skis. The wheel axle assembly on our landing gear assembly can easily be fitted to a ski.

21. Which models are available as Extra-Wide kits? How much wider are they from the original model?

We offer EW versions of the Dakota Hawk and Super Koala. They are 2 inches wider than the Standard version.

22. Under what categories can Fisher Aircraft be registered in the US and Canada? What about International registration?

We have 4 models that qualify under the Part 103 Ultralight rules in the United States. No registration required. The balance of our models must be registered in the United States in the Experimental / Amateur-Built category. All of our models can be registered in Canada as Basic Ultralights or in the Experimental / Amateur-Built category. Rules vary in international jurisdictions. You will have to contact your local Civil Aviation Authority for clarification.

23. Can I buy a built or half-built FFP aircraft from the customer? How do I transfer the ownership?

Yes. You are able to purchase partially completed kits as well as completed aircraft in the United States and Canada. You cannot work on Experimental / Amateur-built aircraft after purchase in the US without a Repairman’s Certificate.

24. How do I know which Tail spring Assembly to buy: Heavy or light?

The Light Tail Spring Chassis (single spring) is for airframes up to 750 lb gross weight. The Heavy Tail Spring Chassis (dual spring) is for airframes up to 1,320 lb gross weight.

25. What kinds of manuals and construction videos are included in the Kit?

This varies between our models. The early designs have all the instructions printed on the plan sheets exclusively. Some newer models had builder’s manuals written for them so the builder had a sequence to follow. A Generic Construction Video set is available in our Web Store that shows techniques for construction of our kits.

26. Where can I find aircraft grade hardware (bolts, nuts, aluminum)?

We supply all of the hardware needed to complete your kit. If you need something specific that isn’t included in the kit, we can easily source it for you.

27. What is included in a Quick Built Kit?

Quick-Build Airframe kits include all items in the Standard Airframe kit as well as the following pre-fabricated components to reduce the time it takes to get your Fisher kit into the air! The major portion of fabrication of these assemblies will be completed with the builder performing final gusseting and shaping.

• Wing Ribs
• Wing Spars
• Wing Tip Bows
• Fuselage Sides
• Fuselage Bulkheads
• Tail Fin, Rudder, Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator

28. What tools will I need to build a FFP kit aircraft apart from common hand tools and measuring devices?

We take ALL of the table saw work out of the kit. You receive the components cut to shape. You simply trim to fit. You should have a miter saw. Compound is necessary, Compound/sliding is best. A small band saw is necessary. A belt sander is necessary. A drill Press is handy but you can get by with a hand drill if you are careful. An assortment of clamps is necessary! You can never have too many clamps.

29. Who can fly a FFP aircraft? Does one require a license to fly?

FFP Ultralights flown under the Part 103 Category in the United States do not require a pilot’s license to fly. No one should fly an aircraft before receiving proper instruction from a qualified instructor. All of our aircraft require a pilot’s license to fly in all jurisdictions in the world except for the U.S. Ultralights.

30. What materials are the fuel tank made up of? How do you make it leak proof?

All of our fuel tanks are made from turret punched and preformed sections of 5052 aluminum sheet. These sections are then connected with Clecos using CNC alignment holes and then expertly welded. Completed tanks are then pressure tested to 3 psi and soap tested along all welds before being shipped.

31. What is a CozyCarb, why is it needed and which engines can this product be installed on?

The CozyCarb Ice Prevention System is a product that prevents ice from forming in the throat carburetor(s). Formation of ice in the carburetor of your engine will reduce the power available to the propeller. CozyCarb manifolds are installed on the output side of each carburetor and channels hot engine coolant to transfer heat to the carburetor body. Ice cannot form on a warm surface therefor the moisture in the air travelling through the venturi of the carburetor will continue through to the combustion chamber and not build up in the carburetor. CozyCarb can be installed on the Rotax 912 Series engines as well as the Rotax 582. CozyCarb can be purchased from the Fisher Flying Products Web Store.

32. How often do I need to do maintenance on my aircraft?

A proper Walk-Around check should be performed before EVERY flight! All aircraft should have a more thorough inspection completed yearly or 100 hrs. whichever comes first. Our aircraft are usually maintained by their owners. Engine inspections are often performed by qualified mechanics.

33. What are the In-House fabrication capabilities of FFP?

CNC Router Cutting. 2D and 2.5D shape cutting with a 6” Z capability on a 4 ft. x 8 ft. table. Wood, Plywood, Plastics and Aluminum Sheet. MIG Welding and TIG Welding – We can perform quality welds on thin aluminum and 4130 steel tubing. Plasma cutting Steel and aluminum. Assembly and Light Machining (call us to get a quote)

34. What type of Engine and propeller can I install in my aircraft? Can I buy them along with the kit?

There are a number of compatible engines that you can install on the nose of your Fisher airframe. We are representatives for Polini Motori, Aeromomentum Engines, Verner Motor and Take-Off (BMW) Engines. We offer attractive Airframe/ Engine Package Pricing! We also design and manufacture our own engine mounts for all of these engine manufacturers.

35. What other aircraft accessories does fisher provide apart from airframe kits?

Fisher offers GSC and Ultra-Prop Propellers and O’Keefe Brake systems. We custom manufacture engine mounts. We custom manufacture engine mounts. We custom manufacture Auxiliary Aluminum Fuel Tanks. We manufacture the Stinger Tail Wheel Suspension System (Ultralight and Standard Sport Plane Versions). We manufacture the CozyCarb Ice Prevention System – An “Always On” Carburetor Heating System

36. What are the hours of operation for customer support?

We offer Email Support at info@fisherflying.com all of the time. We try to respond within a day or two. We offer Phone Support at 519-933-2055 x102 - Monday to Friday from 9am-2pm Eastern.

37. What are the storage requirements of my aircraft to give it a longer life?

All aircraft benefit from being stored indoors when not in use. This is especially true for wooden aircraft! Just like fine wooden furniture, exposure to high humidity and moisture is going to have a detrimental effect over time. The other storage consideration is to keep the aircraft free of insects and other pests. Nests attract moisture and some insects can cause structural damage if they are not detected.

38. What type of runway can I operate my aircraft from?

All of our airframes are able to fly from grass and gravel airstrips.

39. Which of the FFP models has aerobatic capabilities or can be upgraded to one?

Although Aerobatic maneuvers are strictly prohibited in all Fisher Flying Products aircraft, our airframes are very strong when built in accordance with the instructions on the plans. Our airframes are capable flyers and are able to easily handle all maneuvers within the stated load envelope that a responsible pilot would enjoy!