Fisher FP-404

{{Short description|Canadian homebuilt light aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = FP-404 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Fisher_FP-404_I-9598.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Kit aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Canada]] | manufacturer = [[Fisher Flying Products]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 355 (2011)<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1984 | retired = | first_flight = 1984 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} 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]], [[United States|USA]] but the company is now located in [[Woodbridge, Ontario]], [[Canada]].<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2004">Downey, Julia: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2005'', Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 161. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 47. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-23 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="FisherFP404">{{cite web|url = http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22|title = FP-404 |accessdate = 2009-10-19|last = Fisher Flying Products|authorlink = |date = n.d.}}</ref>

==Development== The FP-404 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the [[United States]] in 1984 and was the company's first design that was too heavy for the US [[Ultralight aircraft (United States)|FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'']] category, with the category's maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight. The 404's standard empty weight is {{convert|275|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} when equipped with a two-stroke {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engine, putting it into the US [[homebuilt aircraft|experimental-amateur-built category]], although it qualifies as an ultralight in other countries, such as [[Canada]]. The design goal was to provide a nostalgic aircraft reminiscent of the biplanes of the 1930s, as the company explains "The FP-404 represents a reborn era in airborne adventure. This bi-plane aircraft is a throw-back to seat-of-the-pants flying, complete with minimal instruments and bare-necessity controls."<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" />

The construction of the FP-404 is similar to the [[Fisher FP-202 Koala]]. 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. Both the wings and fuselage are covered with doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The wings are [[strut]]-braced with both [[interplane strut]]s and [[cabane strut]]s. The aircraft has no [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]]. The company claims it takes an amateur builder 500 hours to build the FP-404, "using normal household tools".<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" />

Early versions of the FP-404 were equipped with the {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] in an attempt to keep the aircraft under the US FAR 103 ''Ultralight Vehicles'' weight limit but the aircraft was found to be under-powered due to its short [[wing span]] and high-drag configuration. Heavier engines, like the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] and {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] engines provided adequate power but put the 404 over the category weight limit. These models were designated as the ''Fisher 404 EXP'' to show that they would not qualify for the FAR 103 weight limit.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" />

By late 2004 over 350 FP-404s were flying.<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" />

Reviewer Andre Cliche said about the design:

{{cquote|The forward view from the cockpit is not the best as it is restricted by the wings and cabane struts. The wing span is very short at 18’. This translates into superb maneuverability and almost non—existent adverse yaw. On the other hand, the short span means that the FP-404 needs more power to sustain altitude and has a relatively high stall speed.<ref name="Cliche" /> }}

==Variants== ;FP-404 :Single-seat, single-engined biplane, initial version equipped with a {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 277]] powerplant for the ''FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles'' category ;FP-404 EXP :Single-seat, single-engined biplane, later version equipped with a {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]] or {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] powerplant for the US experimental-amateur-built category

==Specifications (FP-404 EXP) == {{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |ref=Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherFP404" /> |crew=one |capacity=265 lb (120 kg), no passengers |length ft= 14 |length in= 6 |length m=4.42 |span ft=18 |span in=0 |span m=5.49 |height ft=5 |height in=5 |height m=1.65 |wing area sqft= 120 |wing area sqm= 11.16 |empty weight lb= 275 |empty weight kg= 125 |max takeoff weight lb= 540 |max takeoff weight kg= 245 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 503]] |eng1 type=Twin cylinder, two-stroke piston engine |eng1 number=1 |eng1 hp= 50 |eng1 kw=37 |cruise speed mph= 72 |cruise speed kmh=117 |stall speed mph= 30 |stall speed kmh= 49 |never exceed speed mph= 90 |never exceed speed kmh= 146 |climb rate ftmin= 800 |climb rate ms= 4.1 |wing loading lb/sqft=4.5 |wing loading kg/m2=21.95 |power/mass=10.8 lb/hp (0.15 kW/kg) }}

==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Murphy Renegade]] *[[RagWing RW2 Special I]] *[[Sorrell Hiperlight]] *[[Stolp Starduster Too]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Fisher FP-404}} *[http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22 Official website] *[http://www.taildraggersinc.com/Images/Gallery/FP404/FP-4040008.jpg Photo of FP-404]{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

[[Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1984]] [[Category:Biplanes]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]] [[Category:Fisher aircraft|FP-404]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]