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Fisher Flying Products, LIne Of All Wood, Ultralight and Experimental Aircraft Kits.

The Standard construction kit offers builders the experience of assembling the entire aircraft from pre-cut, shaped and slotted wooden pieces, machined hardware, and formed fiberglass cowling and aluminum fuel tank. 

Kits come complete with simple instructions and full scale, full size plan sheets. 

These plan sheets allow the builder to build many components of the aircraft right on top of the plan sheets using only standard household tools. 

Standard construction kits can be completed by the average builder in 600–800 hours depending on the model chosen and the ability of the builder.

Snedden M7, Legal Part 103, Ultralight Aircraft

The Snedden M7 is a new type of fixed wing ultralight aircraft that is more exciting, powerful, stronger, and safer and is equipped with a new type of people friendly control system. 

The Snedden M7 is truly the ultralight reinvented with many new features, concepts and look that defy comparison to any other aircraft or ultralight vehicle.  The M7 ultralight is now undergoing flight tests. 

This revolutionary new ultimate thrill machine has a 3 second ground roll, awesome climb angle, high maneuverability and controllable straight ahead stall characteristics with no tendency for wing drop.  People fly for fun and the Snedden M7 is number one!

Hummel Aviation, Hummel UltraCruiser, Hummel H5, Hummel UltraCruiser Aircraft Builder

The UltraCruiser was designed as the first all metal ultra light in 1998. First flights were in 2000. First plan sales were in 2001. Intended for first time buiders as well as first time pilots, the UltraCruiser is an easy to build and even easier to fly aircraft.

The design can be built straight from plans up to, and including a full kit. The kit includes predrilled laser cut components. All parts are formed prebent, or welded. Wheels, tires, brakes, harness, and even the seat cushion is included. Wing Spar is pre-assembled. 

The kit is very complete. Everthing is included to complete the aircraft less the engine, prop, spinner, and instruments.

Carlson Aircraft Line, Now available from TEAM Mini Max.



Having celebrated the inventiveness of ultralight designer Wayne Ison in the last post, it seems quite appropriate to recognize another, Ernie Carlson. Does that ring a bell for you? One hopes.

Ernie was the man behind Carlson Aircraft along with his wife, Mary. This pair introduced Sparrow, a Part 103-capable single-place ultralight plus larger models like Sparrow II and XTC.


TEAM Mini Max Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980's.

TEAM Mini Max Ultralight Aircraft,

In 1984 while attending the Sun and Fun convention, I watched as a little single seat ultralight aircraft, took to the air in some very gusty, cross wind conditions!

Conditions that had grounded most of the other ultralight aircraft on the field! That aircraft was a Mini Max designed by Wayne Ison of Ison Aircraft.

The Mini-Max is available in a number of models, ultralight versions, experimental versions, and now a two place version. All of them feature all wood geodetic construction.

RANS S4, Rans S5 ultralight aircraft Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980's.

Rans S-4 and S-5

“The founder of Rans Aircraft, Randy is one of the most prolific designers of ultralight, experimental and Light-Sport Aircraft that I know,” said Videoman Dave in his production of these ten vintage ultralight videos on his The Ultralight Flyer YouTube channel.

“The quality and finish of his aircraft and kits has to be seen to be appreciated,” Dave added. I completely agree. I have often told Randy how I admired the factory finish of the airplanes he presents to interested pilots at airshows.

A stickler for getting it right, Randy demurs my admiration but anyone who has closely examined his models at an event knows I am not exaggerating.

The Rans line of ultralight aircraft were first introduced at Sun ‘n Fun 1983.

Quicksilver MX ultralight aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980's.

Ah, the Quicksilver! Where to start with this veritable icon of the ultralight sector?

With more than 15,000 flying, it even outranks Van’s Aircraft for kit aircraft that made it into the air — although Van’s has sold more kits in total and no one disputes the Western brand’s leadership position.

The earliest Quicksilvers were hang gliders (last photo). Engines came later but at first the weight-shift seat stayed (nearby image).

The pilot had lateral control — still by weight shift — but via lines that moved surfaces. Pitch, however, was fully controlled by the pilot moving his or her body.

Those were fun days and provided wonderful memories (yes, I flew them as weight-shift aircraft). Yet the brand went on to vastly greater development. In this article, our focus is on the original three-axis control model, the oh-so-famous MX (multiple axis).

Phantom Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980's.

When the Phantom was introduced to the ultralight market at Sun ‘n Fun in 1982, it won the Best New Design award, not only for good looks and strong performance but for its structural integrity! Indeed, it was touted as having been tested to +9 and –6.6 Gs. 

Though dismissed by some pilots, wire-braced designs are actually very tough. Phantom is a kit built from anodized aluminum tubing, bolted and riveted together. The wings, tail surfaces and ailerons are covered in Dacron sail cloth envelopes and Phantom used a double surfaced wing for better cross wind control and handling.

A wire-braced, high-wing, tricycle-gear ultralight aircraft in a tractor configuration, Phantom has a pilot pod with windscreen and a steerable nosewheel.

Lazair Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980's.

The first time I ever saw Lazair fly — a fly-in at the Tullahoma Airport, as I recall — a then-young Peter Corley flew the lightweight aircraft as though he was the pilot of a military fighter of the day.

He pushed the sleek machine with the whining engines as he looped and rolled the machine with such apparent ease. At this early time of development for these aircraft, such maneuvers in what we called an ultralight were very unusual.

To say either Peter or Lazair was unusual proved something of an understatement. Lazair was, and remains, one of the most unorthodox aircraft of any kind. Several reasons stand out to define its uniqueness.

These differences included: an inverted-V tail, said to be the most efficient tail planform; twin engines (the tiniest ones imaginable); an aluminum structure not based solely on round tubing; and see-through wing and tail coverings. All that is just the overview.

Kolb FireStar Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980s.


The man you saw on the lead photo is the famed Dick Rahill, a one-man flying machine flying his machine at Sun ‘n Fun more capably than any robot. Over and over, Dick would blast off in the bright yellow Firestar that seemed attached to him.

He’d make one quick pattern from the turf runway in Paradise City at Sun ‘n Fun only to land, jump right back in the takeoff line, and repeat. 

Launch, circle, land, repeat… over and over. It seemed like every other airplane taking off was Dick and his FireStar.

Perhaps the popular design from Kolb was simply that much fun to fly. Most Kolb pilots would quickly nod in agreement.

Hiperlight SN8 Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980s.


In this article and video below we will take a quick look at the Hiperlight SNS 8 dating back into the 1980s when the Sorrel brothers first created it out west.

As it turns out, the Sorrel Hiperlight SNS 8 was originally designed at the request of Ron Schettler, the first Canadian Distributor of Rotax aircraft engines. 

It was originally designed to be powered by the Rotax 277 single-cylinder, 28-horsepower two-stroke engine using a Hegar belt reduction drive.

Digging deeper we find SNS 8 is actually a smaller version of the Sorrell Hiperbipe. For those curious about naming conventions, SNS in the name stands for “Sorrell Negative Stagger.”

FP 202 Koala Ultralight, Fisher Flying Products, Top rated ultralights of the early 1980s.


When Fisher was still located where it began, in North Dakota, I paid a visit to the factory. It may have been the tidiest wood shop I have ever seen.

I had just written an article about kit-builder assembly manuals so I was keen to see examples of Fisher Flying Products full-size plans. That always sounded like a marketing term yet I knew it meant exactly what they called it.

Darlene Hansen showed me a neatly-organized series of boxes full of long tubes of paper. She took one out, for the fuselage of the Koala as it turned out (see nearby image). She went to one end of a long, flat table and briskly unfurled the tube of paper while hanging on to the loose edge. It rolled and rolled …and rolled, until a sheet about four feet wide and 20 feet long covered the work table.
You literally take the tiny wood pieces Fisher ships to you as part of the kit and lay them directly on the paper as shown. 

As you went, you dabbed a bit of glue on each piece to hold it, later applying the prescribed amount of glue. Piece after piece, your fuselage begins to take shape.

CGS Hawk, Single Seat Ultralight Aircraft, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980s

Before 1982 these lightest-of-all aircraft were required to be foot-launchable. It’s true. I once staggered into the air partly carrying, partly dragging a Quicksilver. 

I got airborne thanks to a generous 15 mph headwind that provided about three quarters of the speed I needed for… um, you can’t call it “rotation,” but to get enough lift that I could sit down.

Yes, “sit down.” You didn’t think I ran for take off while sitting comfortably belted into a secure seat did you? Nope, that Quicksilver had a literal swing seat and a special rear axle that allowed a full stride of your legs.

OK, that requirement proved futile and FAA later dropped it, but one guy in particular drove that older requirement into the annals of history. His name: Chuck Slusarczyk (“slew-ZAR-chick”…most folks just called him Chuck). Chuck’s aircraft: Hawk.

Buccaneer XA Amphibian, Top rated ultralight aircraft of the early 1980s.

About a decade after the first factory built ultralight aircraft appeared in American skies, seaplanes arrived. Not float-equipped land planes but boat-hulled airplanes. 

At first no one thought such a design could meet Part 103 tight empty weight limit. They didn’t count on a creative crew from the lake region of Florida.

United States Part 103 legal Ultralight aircraft.

On October 4, 1982 the Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 was established. Part 103 established limits on size, performance, and configuration of single seat ultralight aircraft. It also established that individuals flying ultralight do no need a pilot certificate nor do the require a medical. 

Ultralight Aircraft that give the biggest bag for the buck

In this video you will find what the Ultralight Flyer considers the ultralights that give the biggest bang for the buck. We have included static footage, plus footage of the aircraft taking off and landing. Included is a brief description of the aircraft and some of the reasons it has been chosen to go on our list. To help us bring you even more of these awesome videos subscribe to our video magazine below.

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Aerolite 103, Aerolite FAR Part 103 Legal Ultralight or Experimental Aircraft Kits.

IHow Long to Build? At recent Oshkosh events, two “One-Week Wonders” were built using a kit from Zenith with power from Rotax or a Van’s RV-12 with another Rotax 9-series engine. 

These were amazing efforts as this video describes, but Dennis and his Aerolite thinks they can do it quicker — far quicker. Plus, a deal awaits some lucky buyer.

REV, Part 103 Legal Weight Shift Ultralight Trike, powered by thor polini engine.

If the REVO is considered the flying Sport Bike of the Sky. Then undoubtedly, the REV is the flying Dirtbike of the sky. And like a dirtbike no license is required*. 

Big tires, all wheel suspension and STOL** performance allow the REV to explore new possibilities. Perfect for keeping in the garage and flying off of a few acres. 

Ideal for trailering the REV to remote sites without any real runway for Epic adventures.

TEAM Airbike ultralight aircraft, 1800 mile plus trek to and from Buckeye Arizona.

Meet a man who recently made such a flight, over three days, and taking 17 hours of flight time to reach Copperstate 2020 with his legs out in the breeze (pretty true to the motorcycle metaphor, don’t you think?). 

He runs Big Air Hang Gliding giving flight instruction and helping people realize a two-person flight. Hang gliding flight instructors call that tandem. It doesn’t mean the same thing as tandem in a powered aircraft (one behind another). 

In hang gliding, two people must hang from a common point* so they are side-by-side or one atop the other or some variation; the method was called “tandem” and the term stuck.

Kolb FireFly, Tri Gear, Part 103 Legal, Ultralight Aircraft

One of the most storied names in all of light aviation is Kolb Aircraft, going back to the days of Homer Kolb and his simple, affordable, well-flying aircraft kits. Several thousand are flying. 

Homer was a very early entrant to this field, so much so that his first ultralight aircraft came before FAA created the category. After a couple changes of ownership after Homer retired, the venerable enterprise is now run by the very likable Bryan Melborn, who has carried the Kolb banner in a way Home would have loved. 

In fact, the aircraft have never looked better.

4 Engine Lazair Ultralight Aircraft on Floats.

In this video taken by “Old Chuckie” in 1984 at EAA’s Sun N Fun convention held in Lakeland Florida the factory demonstrated a 4 engine Lazair on floats. The float operation was being done from a modified drainage ditch which had been filled with water.

It was approximately 300 feet long and about 30 feet wide. I know this because I was landing and taking off a Buccaneer Amphibian XA from the canal, and my wings would overlap the sides of the canal and my sponsors were at the edge of the water. 

“Old Chuckie” was filming that day while I was flying. He has a number of videos on antique and vintage ultralight aircraft on YouTube, just do a search for “Old Chuckie” - he has now moved on from aviation into motorcycles and has some very unique videos both online and for private viewing.

TEAM Aircraft, TEAM MINI MAX, TEAM EROS ultralight or experimental aircraft

Mini Max - The Team Mini Max is a part 103 legal ultralight aircraft. It is a mid wing, strut braced, tractor configuration, taildragger. 

Controls are standard three axis, with a sender mounted stick and left hand throttle.

Deland, Sport Aviation Showcase, Deland Municipal Airport 2019

The DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase is an annual, three-day event focused entirely on recreational flying and sport aviation.The Sport Aviation Showcase is held at the DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED) in the town of DeLand, known as "The Athens of Florida" for its rich, creative culture featuring art venues, unique stores, international cuisine, night life and live entertainment.

Plus, the weather in early November is perfect for a fun Florida weekend. More than one hundred exhibitors featured all kinds of sport aircraft, ultralights, trikes, rotorcraft, powered parachutes and paragliders, engines, avionics, pilot gear and flight schools. 

Attendees enjoyed demo flights, interactive workshops, educational forums, keynote speakers, food concessions, live music, underwing camping, pre-owned aircraft sales, and more!  The Showcase welcomes all aviation enthusiasts, of all ages—especially those just becoming interested in the Fun Side of Flying!

Corsair, Corsair, JH Aircraft, Corsair Ultralight Aircraft, SportAir USA

Two years ago at my favorite European airshow, Aero Friedrichshafen, Bill Canino of Sportair USA urged me to go look at a cool Part 103 project. 

With a general appearance resembling a Chance-Vought F4U Corsair military fighter, designer Jörg Hollmann‘s ultralight Corsair is reasonably authentic including its highly distinctive inverted gull wing design.


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Cloudster, all wood ultralight aircraft kit, from Simplex Aeroplanes

The Cloudster is a very simple design that is among the easiest of wood ultralights to build AND fly. 

The Cloudster is designed to fly behind a 28-35 hp engine. Depending on your engine selection, you’ll find that the airplane gets off the ground in about 75 feet, lifting off at about 30 mph. 

With a 30 hp Kawasaki 340 engine it’s not uncommon to see a climb out speed of 40 mph at 900 feet per minute, with cruise coming in at around 55-60 mph at 5300 rpms.


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2 cylinder, 4 stroke, Kohler, ultralight aircraft engine conversion

This is my latest engine conversion, 725 cc, 4 cycle, kohler command with a 2.5:1 chain reduction drive, that produces 40 hp at 5500 rpm. 

If you want to build one or need more information, then just send me an e-mail redbiplane@hotmail.com. 

I think this would be great for small air-boat projects too.

Ron Besse.

Easy Riser Foot Launched, Antique, Vintage, Ultralight Aircraft. 


The Easy Riser, and John Moody the “Father of Ultralight Aviation” launched the ultralight movement when he flew an Easy Rise at the EAA Oshkosh Convention in 1978. Some people have inquired about buying Easy Riser plans.  Plans for the Easy Riser are actually assembly instructions for the pre-fabricated parts and there are no detail drawing from which the parts can be made.

In addition, some of the parts would be very difficult to make from scratch because complex tooling is required to make the parts.  Bottom line, a person cannot build the Easy Riser from scratch using the plans provided in the kit..

Larry is only marketing an improved performance, foot-launched, Easy Riser kit as a glider.  He had started developing a powered version but ultimately decided to terminate the project.  


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Airdrome Aeroplanes, Eindecker, Ultralight or Experimental Aircraft Kit

The Fokker E.3, sometimes referred to as the Eindecker ("one wing"), deserves a significant place in aviation history.


Not necessarily because of its aerial prowess, but because it was the first combat aircraft in the world to be equipped with a forward-firing, fixed machine gun synchronized to fire between the propeller blades.

The E.3 was the third and most important variant of Fokker's original monoplane family. Being a small but important step forward in the evolution of the fighter, it is important to note that this aircraft used wing warping for roll control, rather than the "more advanced" aileron flight-control system. 

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14 year old pilot flies Aerolite 103 from Virginia to Airventure.



I’ve frequently had the pleasure to fly into Airventure during the show. Every time, it’s been an eye opening experience, literally and figuratively. 


Now, imagine making such an epic arrival in an ultralight aircraft… ‘er vehicle, cruising at 40-50 mph. Of course, a Part 103 ultralight means flying solo, so you do your own head-swiveling to look for traffic. 

Your planning better be solid to make this a reasonable task.

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Stanley Chitwood and his Kolb Firefly


"Stanley Chitwood and his Kolb Firefly" is an interview and music video segment of the 3 1/4 hour documentary on Ultralight Flying by Brian FitzGerald 

Titled "Ultralight Flying Millennium 2" (UFM2).
More on "UFM2" can be seen here: http://fitzvideo.com/pages/UFM2Pages/...




Badland Aircraft, F1, F2 Flyer, F3 Speed, F4 Monster ultralight & Experimental aircraft


Don't hesitate to contact with any questions. We're here and we love hangar talk.
4580 E. Lake Mead Blvd Unit 104
Las Vegas, NV USA
+1(702)234-9931
chris@badlandaircraft.com



Zing, All Wood, Plans Built, Legal Part 103 Ultralight Aircraft


The Zing first showed up on the scene when it was introduced at Oshkosh back in 1996 at the peak of the ultralight era. The Zing was designed to fly behind a 30-45 hp engine, the airplane gets off the ground in about 75 feet, lifting off at about 25 mph. 



Fisher FP202 Koala Ultralight Aircraft Fisher Flying Products


The Fisher FP-202 Koala was designed by Mike Fisher and Wayne Ison in 1981-3 time frame.  

t was an early Ultralight that actually looked like an airplane - unique in the days of flying spiders made of tubing and sail cloth.   All wood construction made it an easy to build and inexpensive kit.  



Aerolite 103, Hirth F 33 Powered Aerolite, Part 103 Ultralight Aircraft


The Ultralight Flyer talks to the folks from Recreation Power about the installation of the single cylinder Hirth 28 HP two stroke engine on the Aerolite 103.




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Hummel Engines, Hummel VW aircraft engine conversions, 2 & 4 cylinder WV conversions.


Experimental and Ultralight Aircraft Engine Conversion Packages, Reliable Four-Stroke Power

The Hummel 2 Cylinder VW — Powering the Hummelbird, Ultra Cruiser and other Experimental Amateur Built and Ultralight aircraft, Morry Hummel's 1/2 VW engine conversion plans have become a trusted standard in the aviation community.

The original Hummel conversion has been refined over time, allowing larger displacement and the options of NiCom aluminum cylinders, dual ignition, alternator and electric start. 

BobCat Ultralight, SuperCat Experimental Aircraft, by Bobby Baker, First Strike Aviation



BobCat/SuperCat - The Bobcat, was designed by Bobby Baker and was 1st shown at Sun N Fun, Lakeland Florida in 1984. The Bobcat/SuperCat is a plans built aircraft. They use plywood bulkheads, spruce longerons, with Styrofoam ribs, and was covered in standard aircraft covering materials. 


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e Lazair, electric powered Lazair ultralight motor glider, by Dale Kramer. 


Electric Lazair, Dale Kramer's amphibious electric powered Lazair ultralight aircraft. Dale Kramer, designer of the Lazair ultralight aircraft talks to us about his Lazair E, a twin motor, electric battery powered, amphibious, part 103 legal ultralight aircraft. 

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FireFly, Kolb Firefly, AL Force One legal part 103 Firefly ultralight aircraft 


One of the most fun flying ultralight aircraft that I have ever flown has to be the Kolb Firefly, which is one of the reasons that I have it rated as the number 1 true part 103 ultralight in my Best Bang for the Buck series on you Tube and on my website UltralightNews.

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Avenger Ultralight Aircraft, Avenger Experimental Aircraft, by Fisher Flying Products.


he Fisher Avenger is a single-seat, ultralight or experimental aircraft manufactured in Canada by Fisher Flying Products. 

It is an all wood aircraft that is built from kit form, with a building time of between 250 and 400 hours. In the U.S. it can be built as a legal part 103 ultralight aircraft. 

It can be powered by a variety of engines including Rotax, Hirth, and Cuyuna. It also has a version that uses the 1/2 VW conversion. The design was first introduced in 1994 and there are approximately 50 flying. 

Price for kits start around $6,000 U.S. and the Avenger can also be built from plans, which run around $300.00 

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