Fisher Super Koala

{{Short description|Ultralight aircraft design}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2020}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Super Koala | logo = | logo_size = | image = | 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 = 105 (2011)<ref name="KitplanesDec2011" /> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1982 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Piper J-3 Cub]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} 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.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 53-54. 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 160. 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-21 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="FisherSuperKoala">{{cite web|url = https://fisherflying.com/super-koala/|title = Super Koala |accessdate = 23 September 2020|last = Fisher Flying Products|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190306210019/https://fisherflying.com/super-koala/|archive-date= 6 March 2019|url-status= live}}</ref>

[[Fisher Flying Products]] was originally based in [[Edgeley, North Dakota]], [[United States]] but the company is now located in [[Dorchester, Ontario]], [[Canada]].<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherSuperKoala" />

==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 {{convert|400|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight and {{convert|830|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} maximum gross weight, the Super Koala was intended for the US [[homebuilt aircraft]] category.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="FisherSuperKoala" />

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 [[Aircraft dope|doped]] [[aircraft fabric]]. The wings are [[strut]]-braced and utilize [[jury strut]]s. The landing gear is [[bungee cord|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.<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="FisherSuperKoala" />

Engine options are the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]] and the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine. With the Rotax 503 the gross weight is {{convert|740|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and with the Rotax 582 is {{convert|830|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011"/><ref name="KitplanesDec2004"/><ref name="KitplanesDec1998"/><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="FisherSuperKoala" />

==Specifications (Super Koala) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Manufacturer, Kitplanes, Aerocrafter<ref name="KitplanesDec2004" /><ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="KitplanesDec1998" /><ref name="FisherSuperKoala" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft=18 |length in=1 |length note= |span m= |span ft=31 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft=5 |height in=7 |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=140 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=400 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=830 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|10|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=64

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=75 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=32 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph=95 |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=225 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=10000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1100 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=5.92 |wing loading note= |power/mass=12.96 lb/hp (0.13 kW/kg) |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== *[[Fisher FP-202 Koala]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://fisherflying.com/super-koala/}} *[https://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Fisher-Super-Koala/1959013 Photo of Super Koala]

[[Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1982]] [[Category:Fisher aircraft|Super Koala]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]