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Thread: Fuji Aircraft
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Old 16th Jun 2003, 15:16
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Circuit Basher

 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Dorset
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I fly a group-owned Fuji FA200-160 out of Perth - they are a nice well-built aircraft that has the structural strength for aeros - our group don't aerobat ours, so I don't know the list of what it can / can't do. The 160 is a tad underpowered and struggles a bit to get off when fully loaded. Ours has a fixed prop.

Given the structural strength, it is very heavy and glides like a brick. A PFL is more or less point the nose at the deck to keep up flying speed and remember to flare

Good points are - nice comfy cabin, good visibility (other than below!), stable in the cruise, excellent roll / yaw response.

Poor points are - little prop-to-ground clearance, heavy (will not take 4 adults + full fuel), poor brakes. On the brakes, it has very small pads / discs and in our group a set of pads have been known to wear out in 50 hrs. Pads are specific to the Fuji and cost around £400 a set. There is an approved mod to fit C150 brakes (costs £1200-£1500 to implement) and a set of pads are then around £40 (ISTR).

Overall, if someone wanted a Fuji as an interesting plane that they could sling around the sky and get pleasure from flying, I'd recommend it. As a group / club aircraft, I think it would finish up being too expensive to operate. Whichever way, I'd recommend the brakes mod (we are just waiting the mod kit for ours!).

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