FISHER R-80 and RS-80 TIGER MOTH

TYPE: Tandem-seat ultralight biplane kitbuilt.

PROGRAMME: Scale (80 per cent) replica of de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth. First flight June 1994.

CURRENT VERSIONS: R-80 Tiger Moth: As described.
RS-80 Tiger Moth: Introduced 1999; has steel tube fuselage and 89.5 kW (120 hp) LOM M132 engine.

CUSTOMERS: Total of 10 kits sold by mid-2003, of which nine were then registered. Four under construction in Zimbabwe for use on aerial safaris.

COSTS: R.80 standard airframe kit US$12,350; excluding engine (2003); RS-80 standard airframe kit US$18,100 excluding engine (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Can be built using the contents of a basic tool kit. Quoted build time 550 hours.
Single-bay, staggered biplane with N-type interplane struts and slight sweepback to constant-chord wings.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual, with horn-balanced rudder.

STRUCTURE: Wood construction using epoxy adhesives on preformed components.

LANDING GEAR: Tailwheel type; fixed. Tubular steel mainwheel legs; Matco wheels with hydraulic brakes.

POWER PLANT: Prototype has one 70.8 kW (95 hp) Mid West AE100 rotary, but any engine between 55.9 and 89 kW (75 and 120 hp) can be fitted, including Rotax 912, Jabiru 3300, Subaru EA81-100, Norton rotary and LOM M132. One 72 litre (19.0 US gallon; 15.8 Imp gallon) centre-section fuel tank.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 7.01 m (23 ft 0 in)
  • Length overall: 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in)
  • Height overall: 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)

DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL:

  • Cockpit max width: 0.66 m (2 ft 2 in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 15.79 m² (170.0 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Weight empty: R-80: 254 kg (560 lb)
    • RS-80: 363 kg (800 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: R-80: 522 kg (1,150 lb)
    • RS-80: 612 kg (1,350 lb)

PERFORMANCE:

  • Max level speed: R-80: 95 kt (177 km/h; 110 mph)
    • RS-80: 104 kt (193 km/h; 120 mph)
  • Cruising speed: R-80: 69 kt (129 km/h; 80 mph)
    • RS-80: 78 kt (145 km/h; 90 mph)
  • Stalling speed: R-80: 31 kt (57 km/h; 35 mph)
    • RS-80: 35 kt (65 km/h; 40 mph)
  • Max rate of climb: both: 244 m (800 ft)/min
  • T-O run: R-80: 91 m (300 ft)
    • RS-80: 76 m (250 ft)
  • Landing run: R-80: 122 m (400 ft)
    • RS-80: 91 m (300 ft)
  • Range with max fuel: both: 250 n miles (463 km; 287 miles)

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 2004. ISBN: 0-7106-2614-2

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