Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth

The Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth is a Canadian two-seat, conventional landing gear, single engined, biplane kit aircraft designed for construction by amateur builders. The designation indicates that the aircraft is 80% the size of the aircraft that inspired it, the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Fisher Flying Products was originally based in Edgeley, North Dakota, USA but the company is now located in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

This article is about an 80% scale replica aircraft. For the original Tiger Moth, see de Havilland Tiger Moth.
R-80 Tiger Moth
Role Kit aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Fisher Flying Products
First flight 1994
Introduction 1994
Number built 24 (2011)[1]

Development

The R-80 was designed by Fisher Aircraft in the United States in 1994 and was intended to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built category, although it qualifies as an ultralight aircraft in some countries, such as Canada. It also qualifies as a US Experimental Light Sport Aircraft. The R-80's standard empty weight is 560 lb (254 kg) when equipped with a 100 hp (75 kW) Norton AE 100R engine and it has a gross weight of 1,150 lb (522 kg).[3][5]

The construction of the R-80 is of wood, with the wings, tail and fuselage covered with doped aircraft fabric. The aircraft features interplane struts and cabane struts. Like the original Tiger Moth, the R-80 has no flaps. The R-80's main landing gear is bungee suspended. Cockpit access is via the lower wing. The company claims an amateur builder would need 600 hours to build the R-80.[3][5]

Specified engines for the R-80 version have included the 80 hp (60 kW) Geo Tracker auto-conversion engine and the 100 hp (75 kW) Norton AE 100R rotary engine.[2][3][5]

By late 2011 more than 24 R-80s were flying.[1]

In 2000 Fisher introduced a welded 4130 steel tube fuselage as an alternative to the standard wooden fuselage. This version featured a LOM M132 engine of 120 hp (89 kW), a gross weight of 1,350 lb (612 kg) and was developed at the request of customers. The steel fuselage version was known as the RS-80. Six RS-80s had been completed by the end of 2004.[7] Since the company moved to Canada, the RS-80 option is no longer available.

In reviewing the R-80 Ben Millspaugh wrote in Kitplanes Magazine:

She flies beautifully. Ground handling is exceptionally easy and I'd recommend this airplane to anyone who is a first-time builder or any pilot with little or no tail dragger time.[5]

Operational history

In 2000 African Flying Adventures purchased four RS-80 kits to be used for tourist flying in Zimbabwe.[7]

Variants
R-80
Original version with wooden fuselage[2][3][5]
RS-80
Version with welded 4130 steel tube fuselage, introduced in 2000 and discontinued 2008.[7]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (R-80)

Data from Company website, AeroCrafter & Kitplanes[2][3][4][5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.80 m)
  • Wingspan: 23 ft 0 in (7.02 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)
  • Wing area: 170 sq ft (15.81 sq m)
  • Empty weight: 560 lbs (254 kg)
  • Useful load: 590 lb (268 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 1,150 lbs (522 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Norton AE 100R rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

Notable appearances in media

In 2015, an R-80 Tiger Moth built by Jerry Boughner was featured in the Taylor Swift video Wildest Dreams. [9]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 54. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Downey, Julia: Kit Aircraft Directory 2005, Kitplanes, Volume 21, Number 12, December 2004, page 58. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 160. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  4. Kitplanes Staff: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 48. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012
  5. Fisher Flying Products. "R-80 Tiger Moth". Retrieved 2009-10-23.
  6. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 108. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  7. AvWeb Staff (July 2000). "Fisher Tiger Moth Replicas To Let You See Africa Low And Slow". Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  8. "Aircraft". Tillamook Air Museum. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  9. "Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth in Latest Taylor Swift Video". September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
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