Lowell Metz constructed this FP-202 and is very proud of his workmanship. This is one ot the first Cub look-alikes.

Repeating its 1994 success at Oshkosh as "Reserve Grand Champion," Fisher Flying Products' Tiger Moth, an 80% scale replica of the popular British de Havilland aircraft, earned the "Outstanding Biplane" award at this year's Sun 'n Fun. The little plane looks very authentic and flies even better than the original.

Fisher Flying Products' Tiger Moth is the flag bearer of the fleet, followed closely by the firm's Dakota Hawk which was developed over the years into a great-looking easy-to-fly side-byside sport homebuilt. (Its original name came from an R/C model aircraft design built and flown by Darlene's late husband.) The aircraft design is a refined and much improved version of the Super Koala.

Fisher Flying Products' driving force is Darlene Jackson-Hanson, president of the firm and her husband, Gene Hanson is vice-president.

Their home, Edgeley, North Dakota, is a very small farm community enriched by residents who have the "farm work ethic." Darlene is heavily involved in the town's development as well as in her company for its growth and profitability.

Edgeley, North Dakota is a farm community where family values and pride of workmanship are still valued.

Trying to pin down the identity of Fisher Flying Products has always been a bit confusing, because there are several other Fishers and Fischers involved. But we'll try to help.

The association of Erval Jackson and Mike Fisher began when husband and wife, Erval and Darlene Jackson, were dealers for Fisher. In 1987, Erval Jackson died of cancer. Darlene Jackson continued working at the dealership until 1988, when Mike Fisher decided to sell his company. In 1989, Darlene Jackson, with financing made available through a friend, businessman Ed Fischer, a native of Edgeley, now residing in Fullerton, California, purchased Mike Fisher's designs. Darlene purchased Mike Fisher's designs and the name "Fisher Flying Products."

Gene Hanson had always been a loyal employee of Fisher Flying Products and, in 1991, Darlene Jackson and Gene Hanson were married at the Zion Lutheran Church in Edgeley, North Dakota.

After a short period, Mike Fisher went back into the airplane business, using the name "Fisher Aero Corporation."

It should be made clear that the two companies are not associated with each other, except that Fisher Flying Products sells designs which the Darlene-Jackson-Hanson and Gene Hanson company bought from Mike Fisher.

Fisher Flying Products aircraft are the FP series including the 202, 303, 404, 505, 606, the Classic biplane and the Super Koala. These designs are classic Ultralights or very light aircraft, built mostly from wood, with geodetic-type construction for strength and lightness.

These planes are noted for their flying ability and ease of construction.

As the business grew, Darlene and Gene Hanson brought in Steve Lambert, a well-known and respected kit plane designer. His job was to update the Koala into the Dakota Hawk, and to design what was to become the award-winning Tiger Moth.

Any story about Fisher Flying Products becomes a tribute to the abilities and drive of Darlene Jackson who, along with her husband, Gene Hanson, whose high moral values, combined with their love of their small community, plus their love of aviation, have managed to achieve a lifestyle which is the envy of many people. Here's only one example of the result. The little town of Edgeley where Fisher Flying Products is located, is so small that, when people came to pick up their aircraft kit or parts, or tour the factory, there simply was no place for them to stay overnight. When Darlene realized there was this problem, she found financing, then built a Super 8 Motel right next to the plant. Now, visitors to Edgeley have a nice clean, comfortable place to stay. In fact, their motel is so clean and comfortable it has won several Quality Assurance awards for being one of the best motels in the entire Super 8 Motel nationwide chain.

And that's just one small example of their dedication.

The line of fine Fisher Flying Products includes the FP-303 low-wing monoplane Ultralight. The FP-303 is so easy to manage, many owners have taught themselves to fly in the craft. Then there's the FP-202 Koala, a single-place Ultralight which resembles a J-3 Cub. The FP-505 is an Ultralight parasol, and the FP-606 Sky Baby is a trike-gear Ultralight parasol.

Experimental homebuilts offered by Fisher Flying Products include the two-place Super Koala; the FP-404 EXP--a single-seat biplane; the Classic, a two-place biplane; the Dakota Hawk, a two-place Piper look-alike; and the 80% scale Tiger Moth It is indeed a great mix of classic-looking Ultralights and homebuilts--one of which is sure to appeal to a pilot, whatever his taste in aircraft designs or configurations.

The folks at Fisher Flying Products want readers to know that they will also do the actual construction of some of the Ultralight aircraft for those of their customers who would much rather spend their time flying, rather than building. (Of course, Experimentals must be built in some part by the customer.) It is heartily acknowledged by all who have seen the high quality of work done by builders at the Fisher Flying Products factory in this small farming community that it far exceeds that of some much larger firms with a more diverse group of employees.

When we visit Edgeley, those of us who have seen the film Fargo, nominated for "Best Motion Picture of 1996," will find many similarities between its topography and weather and that of the town depicted in the movie. Excessively cold and snowy winters and wide-ranging weather patterns have made the residents of Edgeley a tougher breed than the average "life is easy" American citizen. And the quality of their work is reflected in their high degree of dedication to Fisher Flying Products.