Percy Fisher Monoplane Replica project
The project's purpose is to demonstrate that the Percy Fisher Monoplane was the first indigenous designed, built and successfully flown aircraft in NZ.
Since Sunday's announcement that the Wings over Wairarapa Air Show has been put back until November 2023 there seems to be mixed feelings about the postponement. On the one hand there are huge numbers of very disappointed enthusiasts who planned their entire holidays around the event and on the other hand there are those who are grateful for the break because it gives them the opportunity to develop more projects for the show and time to finish projects that otherwise would not have been ready in time. ( I fall into the latter group because the Percy Fisher Monoplane will be well and truly finished by November). It also gives more time for the fund-raisers to do their job in raising monies for the educational activities for both young and old being planned for the event.
21/02/2023
Wings taking shape, beginning to bond ribs to the wing structure.
I would like to thank the kind person who dropped off a couple of wheels for the monoplane today. I'm sorry I missed you. If you read this, please contact me so I can thank you properly.
Another serious bout of something horrible has put me in hospital again for a few days. It seems that each time I get these chest infections it takes longer to recover. This time, my mobility is even more impaired. I'll just have to be patient and wait until I get better before I continue with the project.
At last the wing rib sections (laser cut plywood) have arrived and I can begin putting the wings together. I've started by bonding the nose ribs to the stringer/leading edge. This, in turn, will be bonded to the main spar. Photos in the comments.
Next, I'll bond the larger sections of the ribs to the rear spar. Then comes the tricky bit where I have to remove a strut at a time to fit the between-spar ribs. Photos of that procedure will follow in due course.
WANTED !!
Help in completing a non-flying replica of the Percy Fisher Monoplane, the first aircraft designed built and successfully flown in New Zealand. Contact John G. Hill stating your qualification or experience. (Doesn't matter if it's just reading a couple of Biggles books or having written a PhD thesis discussing why the Biggles character is so popular.)
I'm afraid there will be no recompense for your work except the knowledge that you have been a part of recreating New Zealand's aviation history and that part will seen by all those who pass through the exhibition hall and aviation museum at Hood Aerodrome who wondered how it all started.
E-mail me if you are interested: [email protected]
Percy Fisher Monoplane replica
This project is not a business. Once the aircraft, a replica of the Percy Fisher Monoplane, is finished it will be donated to the museum for public display. However, to help complete the project help is required by way of donations of either turnbuckles (AN130-8s or similar to suit 3/32” dia wire) or a cash donation of what ever you can afford to got toward buying these items. The rest of the aircraft I can manage myself - just!
On airshow days and other occasions it will be bought out for all to see.
Contact John G. Hill at 0291 287 385 for more information.
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