Pacific Aerospace FU-24 Fletcher

Pacific Aerospace Corporation · New Zealand · first flew 1954 · light aircraft

The Fletcher FU-24 is a New Zealand single-engine low-wing utility and agricultural aircraft originally designed in the United States and subsequently manufactured and developed in New Zealand by Pacific Aerospace Corporation.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

New Zealand agricultural and utility low-wing monoplane
Single-seat or utility hopper-equipped ag plane
Rugged fixed-undercarriage workhorse of New Zealand aviation

Low-wing monoplane with a large hopper in front of the cockpit, fixed undercarriage with large low-pressure tyres for rough fields, and a wide-chord wing; more robust and purposeful in appearance than typical GA aircraft.

Specifications

The Pacific Aerospace FU-24 Fletcher has a length of 9.7 m (32 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.81 m (42 ft).
Its maximum speed is 249 km/h (155 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by Crosby Fletcher in the early 1950s and initially built in the USA, production moved to New Zealand where the type became closely associated with topdressing (aerial fertiliser spreading) across the country's steep hill country. Pacific Aerospace developed turboprop variants to further extend the type's utility.

Variants

Piston variants used 300–400 hp engines; the turboprop FU-24-950 Turbine Fletcher uses an Astazou engine; both single-seat ag and two-seat utility configurations exist.

Where you'll see it

Extensively used in New Zealand for agricultural aerial work; also exported to Thailand, Australia, and other nations.

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