Fike Model E

The Fike Model E was a light aircraft built in the United States in the early 1970s.^[1] Designed by airline pilot William Fike, it was a conventional high-wing cantilever monoplane with tailskid undercarriage and seating for one or two people in an enclosed cabin. The wing was an unusual geodesic wooden construction and was of far greater chord than typical for an aircraft of this type; indeed, one of the purposes of building the aircraft was to investigate the characteristics of a wing of such low aspect ratio (3.0). The empennage was taken from a Piper Cub, but was modified to reduce its span to make it suitable for towing on the road. Plans were made available for homebuilders in the mid 1970s.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 19 ft 2 in (5.81 m)
• Wingspan: 22 ft 5 in (6.80 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.27 m)
• Wing area: 143 ft² (13.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 690 lb (310 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,100 lb (500 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental C85 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled piston engine, 85 hp (64 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h)
• Range: 450 miles (720 km)
• Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,100 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 392. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 539.