The Fletcher FU-24 (now PAC Fletcher) is an agricultural aircraft from the American manufacturer Fletcher . It is used with the appropriate conversion kits as well as freight, passenger and degradation.
#Country of origin: New Zealand
#History :
Fletcher in the USA originally developed the FU-24 largely for agwork in New Zealand.The FU-24 flew for the first time in June 1954, and production and deliveries began during 1955, following certification on July 22. Seventy 195kW (260hp) Continental IO-470-D powered FU-24s and dual control FU-24As were built in the USA before Fletcher ceased production in 1964, and Air Parts (now Pacific Aerospace) of New Zealand acquired the production rights.Initial New Zealand production was of two models, one powered by a 215kW (285hp) Continental, the other a 225kW (300hp) unit. The subsequent FU-24-950 was powered by a 300kW (400hp) eight cylinder Lycoming IO-720, and was followed up by the similarly powered FU-24-954 from 1979.
Like many ag aircraft, the Fletcher was a natural candidate for conversion to turboprop power. The resulting Cresco first flew on February 28 1979 powered by a 450kW (600shp) Avco Lycoming (now Textron Lycoming) LTP-101. Nine such aircraft were built, while a tenth was fitted with a 560kW (750shp) PT6A-34AG.Although PAC announced it would cease aircraft manufacture in 1994, PAC's new owners have placed the Cresco back into production. Initial production was of the LTP-101 powered Cresco 08-600, now the focus is on the PT6A powered Cresco 08-750.PAC also offers turbine FU-24 conversions with PT6s or Walter 601s.
#Heritage Aircraft :
Numerically the FU-24 is the aircraft model that PAL and its forerunner companies have produced the most of any aircraft model and most of these are still flying today albeit often heavily modified with more powerful engines. There is some valid argument as to the exact number produced. It is generally accepted that 300 were factory produced with around 10 assembled from spares by James Aviation and several other NZ companies.
Factory assembled examples were serial numbered 001 through to 297, 2001 and 3001 through 3003. The first completely New Zealand built example built by Airparts (NZ) Ltd in 1966 was a 300-hp variant delivered to Wanganui Aerowork. Prior to that Aircraft were assembled from detail parts produced by Fletcher Aircraft Corporation in the USA.
Fletcher Aircraft Corporation actually only ever assembled 4 complete Aircraft: the prototype s/n 001, s/n 007, s/n 089 and the first FU-24A dual s/n 102 (although this was first built as a FU-24 single control). Of these four, three eventually came to New Zealand. S/n 089 went directly to Uruguay in 1963 and is the only Fletcher FU-24 ever built that has never been to New Zealand. It still exists today and is still powered by a 260-hp Continental Engine.
The 400-hp FU-24 which we all now know as the "950" was actually first developed in Australia by Airparts (NZ) Ltd's Sydney branch. This prototype was then abandoned in favour of another being developed by Pay's Air Service in Scone NSW. The PAS 400 was converted from 300-hp variant s/n 136 and first flew as a 400-hp in February 1970.
400-hp FU-24s were operating in Australia, all modified from 300 hp variants when the first factory example s/n 155 named FU-24-950 was produced in1970. Production of the FU-24-950 continued until s/n 248 in 1978 when it was replaced by the FU-24-954.
The prototype FU-24-954 was actually s/n 247 and it was exported to the USA where it languished unassembled for some years until it was returned to New Zealand and flew for the first time in 1988 at Wanganui Aerowork. The First FU-24-954 to be completed and fly in New Zealand was s/n 250, which first flew in May 1978. Aircraft were being built out of s/n sequence at this time, as s/n 249 did not fly until May 1979.
The last FU-24-954 was s/n 257 so numerically it was the smallest variant built with the exception of the sole FU-24-872, and the three turbine variants built in the late 1960s.
Next came the final factory variant named FU-24 post 954 with s/n 258. Production of the post 954 continued, albeit sporadically, until s/n 297, which flew in May 1992 when production was halted in favour of the 08-600 Cresco, (which itself had been in sporadic production for some 10 years). Of the final 10 FU-24 post 954s built the first Five went to Thailand and the final five to Syria.
There is confusion as to what is an FU-24-954 and what is a FU-24 post 954. The FU-24-954 is identical to an FU-24-950 but with a large Cargo Door. An FU-24 post 954 had a revised appearance including new Cowlings, Aileron fences, changed Rudder Pedals and many other refinements over an FU-24-954. What is generally accepted as an FU-24-954 is actually an FU-24 post 954.
#Powerplants :
FU-24-954 - One 300kW (400hp) Textron Lycoming IO-720-A1A or A1B fuel injected flat eight piston engine driving a three blade constant speed Hartzell propeller. Cresco 08-750 - One 560kW (750shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG turboprop.
#Performance :
FU-24-954 - Max speed 233km/h (126kt), max cruising speed 209km/h (113kt), typical operating speed range 165 to 210km/h (90 to 115kt). Initial rate of climb 805ft/min. Service ceiling 16,000ft. Range with max payload and reserves 709km (383nm).
08-750 - Max speed 291km/h (157kt), max cruising speed at 75% power 261km/h (141kt). Initial rate of climb 1657ft/min. Service ceiling 26,000ft. Range with standard fuel and no reserves 726km (392nm).
#Weights :
FU-24-954 - Empty equipped 1188kg (2620lb), max takeoff 2465kg (5430lb).
08-750 - Empty equipped 1315kg (2900lb), normal max takeoff 2925kg (6450lb), ag (restricted) category max takeoff 3742kg (8250lb).
#Dimensions :
FU-24-954 - Wing span 12.81m (42ft 0in), length 9.70m (31ft 10in), height 2.84m (9ft 4in). Wing area 27.3m2 (294.0sq ft).
08-750 - Same except for length 11.07m (36ft 4in), height 3.63m (11ft 11in).
#Capacity :
Typical arrangement seats pilot and passenger, and chemical hopper (capacity 1210 litres/265Imp gal/319US gal in FU-24-954, 1770 litre/391Imp gal/470US gal in Cresco). Can also be configured for freight work, or as a passenger aircraft can seat six in rear compartment (earlier models can seat five or six passengers).
#Production :
Almost 300 FU-24s built in the USA and New Zealand (70 in US, balance in NZ) since 1955. Approx 30 Crescos built.
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