Fisher FP 202 Koala

Development

The FP-202 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the United States in 1981 and was intended to meet the requirements of the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category, including that category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight. The design goal was to provide ultralight pilots with an aircraft that looked like and flew like the classic Piper Cub, without the regulation that goes with owning a type certified aircraft. The FP-202 can achieve an empty weight of 250 lb (113 kg) when equipped with a lightweight, two-stroke engine.

The Super Koala was first flown in 1983 and has two side by side seats arrangement. 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.

The construction of the FP-202 and Super Koala are unusual for aircraft in their 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 Koalas 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 and brakes are optional on both designs. The company claims it would take the amateur constructor between 250–500 hours to build the FP-202 and 500 hours for the Super Koala.

Variants

FP-202 Koala

Single seat, high wing ultralight aircraft, standard empty weight 250 lb (113 kg) with 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 engine

Super Koala

Two seat side by side, high wing homebuilt aircraft, standard empty weight 400 lb (181 kg). 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).

Specifications (Super Koala)

Data from Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche

General characteristics

Crew: one

Capacity: one passenger

Length: 18 ft 1 in (5.52 m)

Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.46 m)

Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)

Wing area: 140 sq ft (13.02 sq m)

Empty weight: 400 lbs (181 kg)

Useful load: 430 lb (195 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 830 lbs (376 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 two cylinder, two-stroke piston engine, 64 hp (48 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 95 mph (154 km/h)

Cruise speed: 75 mph (122 km/h)

Stall speed: 32 mph (52 km/h)

Rate of climb: 1100 fpm (5.6 m/s)

Wing loading: 5.92 lb/sq ft (28.88 kg/sq m)

Power/mass: 12.96 lb/hp (0.13 kW/kg)