Fletcher FU24 300

From Classic Flyers NZ

The rather unglamorous American-designed Fletcher agricultural top-dresser was first flown in 1954. It was built in New Zealand to meet the needs of our farming communities and difficult countryside and has been a tremendous success, with 297 aircraft being built by Pacific Aerospace in Hamilton. Few aircraft have done so much to sustain New Zealand’s farming economic backbone and, as such, it retains a special place in our shed.

Our aircraft, an FU24 300, was retrieved from Maungaturoto, having sat near a farm top-dressing airstrip for many years. Parts needed to make it complete were kindly donated by SuperAir Hamilton. Hard work and a coat of paint have produced a worthy display piece. It bears the registration ZK-BDS to represent the first Fletcher registered in NZ.