# Fisher FP-404 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fisher_FP-404 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fisher_FP-404.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_FP-404 > Source revision: 1321137126 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Canadian homebuilt light aircraft FP-404 General information Type Kit aircraft National origin Canada Manufacturer Fisher Flying Products Number built 355 (2011)[1] History Introduction date 1984 First flight 1984 The **Fisher FP-404** is a Canadian single-seat, [conventional landing gear](/source/Conventional_landing_gear), single-engined [biplane](/source/Biplane) [kit aircraft](/source/Kit_aircraft) designed for construction by amateur builders. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in [Edgeley, North Dakota](/source/Edgeley%2C_North_Dakota), [USA](/source/United_States) but the company is now located in [Woodbridge, Ontario](/source/Woodbridge%2C_Ontario), [Canada](/source/Canada).[1][2][3][4][5][6] ## Development The FP-404 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the [United States](/source/United_States) in 1984 and was the company's first design that was too heavy for the US [FAR 103 *Ultralight Vehicles*](/source/Ultralight_aircraft_(United_States)) category, with the category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight. The 404's standard empty weight is 275 lb (125 kg) when equipped with a two-stroke 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) engine, putting it into the US [experimental-amateur-built category](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft), although it qualifies as an ultralight in other countries, such as [Canada](/source/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."[3][5][6] The construction of the FP-404 is similar to the [Fisher FP-202 Koala](/source/Fisher_FP-202_Koala). The aircraft's structure is entirely made from wood, with the wooden [fuselage](/source/Fuselage) built from wood strips arranged in a [geodesic](/source/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](/source/Aircraft_fabric). The wings are [strut](/source/Strut)-braced with both [interplane struts](/source/Interplane_strut) and [cabane struts](/source/Cabane_strut). The aircraft has no [flaps](/source/Flap_(aircraft)). The company claims it takes an amateur builder 500 hours to build the FP-404, "using normal household tools".[3][5][6] Early versions of the FP-404 were equipped with the 28 hp (21 kW) [Rotax 277](/source/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](/source/Wing_span) and high-drag configuration. Heavier engines, like the 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447) and 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/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.[3][5] By late 2004 over 350 FP-404s were flying.[2] Reviewer Andre Cliche said about the design: 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.[5] ## Variants **FP-404** - Single-seat, single-engined biplane, initial version equipped with a 28 hp (21 kW) [Rotax 277](/source/Rotax_277) powerplant for the *FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles* category **FP-404 EXP** - Single-seat, single-engined biplane, later version equipped with a 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447) or 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) powerplant for the US experimental-amateur-built category ## Specifications (FP-404 EXP) *Data from* Company website, Kitplanes and Cliche[2][3][4][5][6] **General characteristics** - **Crew:** one - **Capacity:** 265 lb (120 kg), no passengers - **Length:** 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) - **Wingspan:** 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) - **Height:** 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) - **Wing area:** 120 sq ft (11.16 m2) - **Empty weight:** 275 lb (125 kg) - **Max takeoff weight:** 540 lb (245 kg) - **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) Twin cylinder, two-stroke piston engine, 50 hp (37 kW) **Performance** - **Cruise speed:** 72 mph (117 km/h, 63 kn) - **Stall speed:** 30 mph (49 km/h, 26 kn) - **[Never exceed speed](/source/V_speeds#VNE):** 90 mph (146 km/h, 78 kn) - **Rate of climb:** 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s) - **Wing loading:** 4.5 lb/sq ft (21.95 kg/m2) - **[Power/mass](/source/Power-to-weight_ratio):** 10.8 lb/hp (0.15 kW/kg) ## See also **Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era** - [Murphy Renegade](/source/Murphy_Renegade) - [RagWing RW2 Special I](/source/RagWing_RW2_Special_I) - [Sorrell Hiperlight](/source/Sorrell_Hiperlight) - [Stolp Starduster Too](/source/Stolp_Starduster_Too) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_1-1) Vandermeullen, Richard: *2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide*, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2004_2-2) Downey, Julia: *Kit Aircraft Directory 2005*, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_3-4) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook*, page 161. BAI Communications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_4-1) Kitplanes Staff: *1999 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 47. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Cliche_5-5) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page B-23 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FisherFP404_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FisherFP404_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FisherFP404_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FisherFP404_6-3) Fisher Flying Products (n.d.). ["FP-404"](http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22). Retrieved 19 October 2009. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Fisher FP-404](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fisher_FP-404). - [Official website](http://www.fisherflying.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=22) - [Photo of FP-404](http://www.taildraggersinc.com/Images/Gallery/FP404/FP-4040008.jpg)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] v t e Fisher Flying Products aircraft Avenger Barnstormer Boomerang Celebrity Classic Culex Dakota Hawk Flyer FP-101 FP-202 Koala FP-303 FP-404 FP-505 Skeeter FP-606 Sky Baby Horizon 1 Horizon 2 Mariah R-80 Tiger Moth Super Koala Youngster v t e Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada ASAP Beaver RX 550 Plus Beaver SS Chinook Plus 2 Summit 2 Summit SS Ameri-Cana Eureka Birdman Chinook Blue Yonder Merlin EZ Flyer EZ Fun Flyer EZ Harvard EZ King Cobra Twin Engine EZ Flyer Bushcaddy/CADI/CLASS L-160 R-80 R-120 Fisher Avenger Celebrity Classic Dakota Hawk FP-202 Koala FP-303 FP-404 FP-505 Skeeter FP-606 Sky Baby Horizon 1 Horizon 2 R-80 Tiger Moth Super Koala Youngster Froebe Brothers Froebe helicopter Murphy Aircraft Moose Rebel Yukon Norman J6 Karatoo Nordic I Nordic II Nordic III Nordic IV Nordic V Nordic VI Nordic VII Nordic 8 Mini Explorer Normand Dube Aerocruiser Aerocruiser Plus Aerocruiser 450 Turbo Spectrum Aircraft/ Freedom Lite/Legend Lite Beaver SS-11 Skywatch UltraFlight Lazair Ultravia Pelican Zenair CH 601 CH 701 CH 801 CH 2000 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fisher FP-404](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_FP-404) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_FP-404?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.