Fletcher Defender...a Tiny Killing Machine

[@fullspektrum435]

Nice video, and interesting subject! More of these, please! I really liked that you added the sound of the aircraft in the end, as often in videos like these it will be missing. I didn't know that cherokees were derived from Fletchers, that was new one for me!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Glad you enjoyed it! The video at the end is truly the only footage out there of this super rare plane. A friend on instagram sent it a while back. Here's another bit of trivia (which I didn't include on the video) John Thorp invented the "flying tail" you see on Cherokees as well as jets like the MD-80.

[@Kimoto504]

"at the end of this video" ~skips to end~

[@bwfvc7770]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Thought the English came up with the flying tail for breaking the sound barrier, made a deal with the U.S. for technology sharing and the rest is history.

[@Lurch-Bot]

I had my early flight training in the Scottish Aviation Bulldog, which could be outfitted with a pair of LMGs and a pair of Matra unguided rocket pods or a pair of 145kg fragmentation bombs. They also could have hypothetically been outfitted with a pair of Sidewinder SRAAMs for the purpose of engaging attack and transport helicopters and other CAS planes. I've also flown the Jet Provost which was also turned into a light CAS plane in the form of the BAC Strikemaster. I was a cadet in the British CCF and we were expected to be able to be pressed into service in the event of an invasion of the UK. This is why I had ab-initio aerobatic flight training. The only way to have a chance of surviving missions flying a dinky little plane over a battlefield is if you can fly like the devil himself.

[@twofacedmctwoface4876]

Thank you for the story... I was one of the 10 whom developed the aircraft into the Cresco... the forerunner of the XL750...

[@bwfvc7770]

In NZ after WW11, pretty much all of the pilots of Topdressers were Ex Fighter Pilots and us kids used to watch them standing their 'planes on a wing and doing all the exciting kinds of flying that made a young boy go crazy wanting to be a Pilot. We knew all their names and would be speculating as to who was responsible for the amazing Airshow near our School.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That's damn amazing!

[@andrewoh1663]

I live in New Zealand and regularly see Fletchers doing their thing above farmland.

[@altaloma7789]

They're called Augmenter Tubes, and use exhaust pressure to increase airflow in the engine compartment to aid engine cooling.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

And they sound AWESOME! Some of the best sounding planes have them (Caribou, Convair, Queenair, etc)

[@altaloma7789]

Oops, may have it spelled it incorrectly. Augmenter tubes is my best guess. They also got used on some other aircraft of the day, like Rockwell Commanders, and were oppressively loud. The video does not give a true volume representation. They were LOUD! Obnoxiously LOUD. Some people gave up and removed them to keep the complaints to a minimum. Some small airports even "requested" that their owners change them. Airports get enough heat from airplanes being loud. To make them louder brought on outrage, especially after the third or fourth run through the pattern.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

@@altaloma7789 Well, some context needs to be taken into consideration, these were popular around the 1950s, but pretty much ALL vehicles were loud back then. If you feel that these were loud, check out what early turbojets sounded like (early Lears, Sabres, etc). The tubes went away by the 1960s anyways, as other cooling methods were employed.

[@lcfflc3887]

Could have very well be mounted under the wings, such a careless idea to mounted on top of the wings, nasty fumes and extra notice the pilot does not need.

[@DblIre]

Early Cessna 310's also had them

[@kiwikeith7633]

I had a ride in a Fletcher FU-24 crop duster. The pilot was out for practice. It was the most thrilling flight in fixed wing I ever had.. I ca attest to the agility of the plane, and the G's it can deliver. I recall staring down the trunk of a pine tree from above, and pulling out of the dive as the branches spread out towards the ground. Passing though gaps in the hedge and then following the meandering of a creek back to the base field. And there are so many flying today, although many are upgraded to turbo-prop as the CRESCO.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that.

[@xAEROPLANEx]

Can only imagine what could have been if one of the services had chosen to obtain these. Instead it’s delegated to being a footnote in history, part of the line of other interesting aircraft. Thanks for letting us know about it!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks for watching!

[@shinc4054]

Thanks, interesting 🤔

[@darylnd]

"Relegated," not "delegated." Different words, different concepts.

[@xAEROPLANEx]

@@darylnd Indeed !

[@ivandenisovich6005]

Fascinating stuff. I'd heard of the Defender but not the back story. Look forward to seeing more from your channel.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you!

[@mattheide2775]

Thank you for the video and the channel. I think that the civilian aircraft designs in the late 40's through the 50's was the Golden Era for small airplanes. I guess there is a saying in the pilot world; If the plane looks right, it will fly right. 👍

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Well said! Thanks for watching

[@vumba1331]

When still flying the airfield used had a sky diving school and used the turbine FU 24 as their dive aircraft. Amazing performance, easily back down on the ground before the skydivers after a 12,000 foot drop!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

There's one sort of local to me, about 1hr south in X51

[@handy335]

Good stuff! Well done! Thank you!

[@foxie1927]

Thanks, I enjoyed that, wrapping the story into the John Thorpe history generally, added interest. As did tying it into the COIN Ops aircraft category, like the Mwari. Of course the final clip and audio of those augmentors playing their tune was the cherry on top.👍🏻

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks! I guess the video was really a bio on John Thorp (I usually start with a story on the plane but ultimately weave the designer into the story)

[@frankzardini6224]

The background story is fascinating! Mr Fletcher's confidence and determination are unparalleled examples to follow. Thanks for posting the amazing stuff!

[@dannyphantom1232]

Love the defender! Great video as always 👏🏻

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks! 👍

[@MeppyMan]

My father flew the Fletcher FU-24 in NZ back then. I had no idea of its history. Cool video. Dates of each event in the video would have been really nice.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

That’s awesome! Thanks for the feedback and will take that dates into consideration for next vid 👍

[@MeppyMan]

@@aircraftadventures-vids fletchers were popular when I was growing up in small town NZ.

[@ronbarden7210]

My dad also flew the FU-24 in New Zealand back in the 1950s. In fact, he test flew the first 42 completed at Robertson Air Service and James Aviation. He trained the technicians on how to assemble the Fletchers from the kits. He lost his best friend during the test flying of the FD-25.

[@MeppyMan]

@@ronbarden7210 wow that’s awesome. Sad about his friend. Not sure what years my dad flew them. Probably late 60s before he started flying helicopters. Such an iconic Kiwi ag plane.

[@markawbolton]

I was involved with FU - 24 in airborne geophys 2005 ish .. wierd half seat for a half passenger.. me ..

[@trinas7131]

And now we have the Brazilian Super Tucano doing the same roll.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Verdade!

[@amiganutt]

My father started building the T18 before his death. I was able to take a flight in the T18 at an EAA Fly In.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Lovely design!

[@ZebulonAirRacing]

Awesome job, cool subject, keep the videos coming!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you my friend! I'm thinking of doing a compilation and include the Epsilon, not quite sure what the theme will be.

[@kingghidorah8106]

7:11 seeing a tiny prop plane armed with four sparrows is terrifying

[@allovertheworld1356]

Great content. Just got back from flying 1969 PA28. Same same but different. Waiting for more.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

More to come! Thanks for watching.

[@Ed_Stuckey]

I was concerned you weren't going to mention the T-18. Seven and one-half minutes in and there it was in all it's beauty. 👍

[@mustang51hy]

Excellent video! one cool panes for sure!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks!

[@DblIre]

Thorpe was the first to fly a homebuilt aircraft around the world. The plane is now in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin.

[@davidduganne5939]

@@DblIre Don Taylor was the pilot; he flew Thorp N455DT. There is no "e" in Thorp

[@bradalgra8088]

Richard, outstanding video on one of my all time favorite aircraft! I think I have every photo that exists of the FD-25, but have never seen that video footage. I always wonder where Ben gets his rare content from sometimes. Great backstory of the Defender and John Thorpe. I always cross my fingers that it will appear at Airventure one day, as it has once before at Pacific Aerospace's booth. Fingers crossed. Thank you, and keep bringing the great content Richard!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Hey Brad! Yeah Ben shot that video at a fly-in earlier this year where the defender showed up at a small fly-in. Caught him by surprise too! I was more than thrilled when i saw the vid. Owner was fun to chat with, just not sure he’s going to drag it up to Osh!

[@bradalgra8088]

@@aircraftadventures-vids I knew it was up in Northern California but didn't know it was still airworthy. So happy to see it still flying. It's such a unique airplane!

[@ronbarden7210]

I did see the FD-25 at AirVenture in 2010. My dad worked with John Thorp for many years. We spent most of two years in New Zealand (1954 - 56), while my dad helped Robertson Air Service and James Aviation get tooled up and assemble the first FU-24s. He then did the test flights on the first 42 completed.

[@bradalgra8088]

@@ronbarden7210 That's pretty cool Ron! Lucky man to work with John Thorp. Legend.

[@davidmcintosh7563]

What a cool airplane! I bet it’s a fun plane to fly!

[@charleslindsay3201]

good background about thorpe the man.i remember the thorpe high performance kit plane but don't think i ever saw one.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

My pleasure! I feel like the designer needs as much of the spotlight as the plane. And there’s so many more i’d like to cover (Dean Wilson is one).

[@fredferd965]

In the 1950's Fletcher Aviation was located in Rosemead, California, before the I-10 freeway was built. Though the facility is gone now, its location was just east of what is now Fletcher Avenue, and south of what is now Flair Drive. (This is to the east of Rosemead Boulevard.) At the time, Fletcher Aviation had an airport, Fletcher Field. In the early 1950's Fletcher Field was used to film major scenes in the movie, The Billy Mitchel Story, with Gary Cooper. It was the only airport in the entire Los Angeles basin that didn't have houses in the background. Looking south and east, there was a convenient line of trees as a backdrop. We lived nearby and walked over there (I was maybe 6 or 7 years old) and saw Cooper in uniform coming out of one of the buildings. The Goodyear Blimp showed up and gave blimp rides for only five dollars. There were a number of skeletonized US "yellow pearl" biplanes parked on the ramp, and the Grumman amphibious biplane showed up for local color. It is all gone now, every bit of it. The only thing that remains is the name of Fletcher on the road. One long wing Fletcher 24 flew out of El Monte Airport for many years. We would see it in the air every now and then.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thank you for sharing that! Certainly enriches the story behind the plane.

[@fredferd965]

@@aircraftadventures-vids You're welcome! You have a great presentation here! Well done!

[@XavierLignieres]

That thing sounds like a classic motorcycle !

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Not sure about that…maybe a Valkyrie??

[@undertow2142]

The world needs a relatively inexpensive twin engine amphibious plane that you can go camping in. Like a downsized PBY Catalina.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Look up the Wilson Global Explorer! It's exactly that. I'd love to do a video on that thing.

[@michaelwebber4033]

It wasn't Pacific Aerospace, It was AESL, which was Aero Engine Services Limited. It eventrually became Pacific Aerospace

[@davidduganne5939]

An early Bonanza would sound great with those augmentors!

[@rolfhelder7771]

These videos look much better than the too narrow format of short videos.

[@Flightstar]

Great story and presentation.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Much appreciated!

[@Flightstar]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Id love to see a story about the Private Explorer and its predecessor the Global Explorer. Designed by a Dean Wilson, Who designed the Avid kit plane and who''s features tricked into the prolific KitFox and recently the Just Aircraft Highlander bush plane. Unfortunately the Global explorer crashed somewhere in British Columbia. The Private explorer I believe the design was sold to a company in Quebec that tried to kit it in two variants, A light version with a Rotax 912 and a big size camper version powered by a Lyc 540. It was nicknamed the Wingebago. The only flying version of that, that I knew of, crashed in Lake Azure in BC also, after the pilot forget to retract the gear on the amphib floats and it sunk in 400' of water. That one was powered by a turboprop. It had been recovered by the insurance Company after being found by an underwater drone, which during the search also found a Tiger Moth on Skis sitting on the bottom of the lake in pristine condition. It had landed on the ice in the 40's and abandoned by the crew , then presumably sunk during the spring breakup. There's a lot of gaps in the Explorer's saga and I you'd be the guy to make a great video story about it.

[@terryhagle]

7:35 - my GoPro video, used without permission- but thanks for including N218TH while it was in phase 1 and primer gray

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I'm sorry, I can add a mention in the comment and link to your channel if that's ok?

[@terryhagle]

A comment and link would be great. Nice coverage of John Thorp and his designs

[@hotprop92]

Wow, I want one of these!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I’m not so sure Philip (the owner) will let you!

[@user-fd7vt5zx7q]

Wow... Great job!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks!

[@flymachine]

I am busy designing a metal utility aircraft based on the defender with a turboprop - other than the many obvious benefits of the design this all started because putting a turboprop on the defender was an obvious itch I could not scratch my whole life

[@alcodie1558]

What a Harley Davidson would sound like if you put wings on it : )

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Not that far off.

[@danmallery9142]

The wing looks like an inverted gull wing / Hershey bar Piper wing.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Well, now you know where that hershey wing came from 👍

[@monostripezebras]

It kind of reminds me of Bob Diemerts "Defender" concept ;=P

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I recall that wacky thing. Would make a great video, except there's almost no record of it (as far as images)

[@MonostripeZebra]

@@aircraftadventures-vids there is the worlds greatest aviation documentary: watch?v=ZvbQMqd0kEY ;=P

[@drifter503]

Great video. I’ve seen one of those 750xl at FXE

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Thanks for watching! and sharing the pic of the 750. I know they use one at Homestead for skydiving too.

[@corporalvideo26]

I waited till the end to hear the exhaust noise to be disappointed to find it only on the left channel.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Damn! You know someone told me about that a while back. Really weird, it works fine for me. Wonder if it’s by device??

[@aviatoraw]

The Air Warden proves the concept is still valid.

[@aviatoraw]

Sky Warden

[@hotprop92]

I vaguely remember an article in one of the aviation rags of the day, perhaps Air Progress, back in the 70s early 80s. Born out of the needs of Vietnam where where the NVA would wait out the fast movers since they gulped down fuel like a dry camel. These could loiter forever and the idea was to have them minutes away from the action so seemingly instantaneous response time and hang time. Great concept but the military-industrial complex wants big expensive. It's all about the bucks not what might make sense and best for the mission.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yeah not sure if that was the sole reason but it makes sense. Like i mentioned, this plane was a pioneer in the COIN concept so it did have its use.

[@ncdave4life]

Neat story and video, but the right-channel of the Defender's audio is missing.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Really?? Gonna have to look into that, some folks mentioned it doesn't work with headphones either. Ugh, mistakes of a rookie video editor. Thanks for letting me know.

[@ncdave4life]

​@@aircraftadventures-vids, I use headphones, which is why it is very noticeable when one channel is missing. The left channel is fine. Maybe the folks who "mentioned it doesn't work with headphones" have headphones with only the right earpiece working.😀

[@stevenhard3961]

Looks a lot like the USAF T37 jet powered trainer. The T37 is also a fighter jet.

[@andywells397]

You can see where a tucano came from.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Sort of. Tucano started as strictly a training plane (evolved from the T-25 Universal). It then developed into a formidable COIN aircraft.

[@jurianmisawayee1138]

P750 wings looked awfully similar to the silhouette but I didn’t know they were related

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yup! It's got Thorp's name on them

[@joesutherland225]

Hmm im thinking drone applications today based on this design

[@FairladyS130]

That Defender was too small and simple for the US military, has to be big dude.

[@hotprop92]

And very expensive

[@craigwall9536]

Boy, are YOU wrong! It was designed as a COIN fighter: COunter INsurgent fighter: intended to go after the Viet Cong, down low and popping out from behind trees. This design evolved into the Thorp T-18, a high performance all-metal homebuilt.

[@craigwall9536]

It's sad to see a video like this. While nominally accurate, the interpretation are wildly off center in some cases.

[@pcbondart]

seems like the intended mission was what the A37 ended up performing

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Seems like it. As well as many others

[@pcbondart]

@@aircraftadventures-vids Embraer Super Tucano, Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine to name a couple of them

[@AlphaWhiskey_Haryo]

so we can say Piper Warrior and PAC750 have a common ancestor?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Certainly can!

[@jeffapplewhite5981]

Bazooka Joe!

[@ormtheelder2657]

I live in northern calif. Where is this plane located?

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Davis, California.

[@tomthompson7400]

whats the aircraft at 7:17 , it looks great too.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

It's called the AHRLAC, a new design from South Africa. Looks a bit like a cross between a Bronco and Skymaster.

[@tomthompson7400]

@@aircraftadventures-vids its a mighty looking thing , I like Broncos , they just look right ,,, like a mosquito looks right.

[@billgates3699]

‼️Gee thanks for reminding us like six times to watch to the end. So glad I watched all of the useless filler just to hear a plane fly by 🤡 talk about grifting

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

😂

[@cbroz7492]

..this this looks like IIRC Northrop Y aircraft from Vietnam..

[@RichardHodge-ec3mx]

🛩🤩

[@waltergolston6187]

like the rumble it means business

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Certainly not stealthy!

[@TheIndyspace]

​@@aircraftadventures-vids , in nap of the earth flight, probably "stealthy enough"... 🤔

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Alotta Misframed Military History And overpadding the Fletcher resume Garbage Military plane Still quite an Adorable little Bird Great work

[@grandkaiser1]

It's a flying death Harley 😅

[@davidcisneros1429]

Sounds a little bit like a radial.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

I'm sure at some point the Ukrainians will test this concept out.

[@Paladin1873]

The problem with such small, limited capability aircraft is the need for lots of them and pilots to match. It becomes a drain on the finite resources of a world class air force tasked with performing many different types of missions around the world. Small COIN aircraft are best suited for smaller nations with limited requirements and no counter-air threat.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

I agree. Still, it was an interesting take on warfare, even if it had its disadvantages

[@Paladin1873]

@@aircraftadventures-vids PT boats of the sky.

[@УралАлтаев-р6ж]

отличный канал!

[@robertmatch6550]

If the aircraft sent to Cambodia and Vietnam left no trace, it might not have been good for pilots. Furthermore with those blatting exhausts, not good for pilots' ears. Having the Cherokee on your resume is a great heritage to leave.

[@borisivkovic6308]

Check Yugoslavian Kraguj!

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Yup, it's on my video as well

[@war_thunder_gameplay]

IT looks like a soko j 20

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

Soko came out nearly 20 years later

[@constitutionallyweird6812]

Gijian please

[@slobodanmitic1354]

7:01 Soko J-20 Kraguj

[@bobwilson758]

Needed retractable gear ! Badly ---^ ^ ^ 😅. See ya ----->

[@wm.tomlinson1434]

Sounds lie a Spitfire.

[@darylnd]

Way too heavy on the music.

[@aircraftadventures-vids]

can't please everyone

[@AlexanderHardin-j4s]

Dont laugh dance like a butterfly stink like a bee

[@atomicskull6405]

Sounds an awful like like a Super Tucano or rather the Super Tunaco is a lot like this aircraft

[@GregoryHawkins-d2p]

Stop calling people by their last names. Call them by their first names.

[@raymond7880]

These are cheap but pilots aren't!

[@Sailor426]

Slab wing FU24 721 cube boxer 8 cylinder the go to machine in NZ Ag industry ….long days 800 ton in the bin on land and survey strips .

[@hotprop92]

800 tons???

[@Sailor426]

@@hotprop92 that’s right one ton a load 800 take offs and landings , govt money …that was our biggest farm ! Obviously the bin wasn’t that big trucks would keep filling it so if you didn’t get blown out that’s big days. Some times two Fletchers but one loader !