One of the many fly-ins Dan attended with his Cleanex, and one of his favorite, was the Sonex fly-in held in Crossville, TN. The 2009 fly-in was where Dan and Dick first met.
Dick’s love of flight started in a Piper Cub on skis in 1966 in Meadville, PA. His lessons began in 1970 in a Piper Cherokee and then soloed in 1982 in a Luscombe 8A, Cessna 140, 150 and a 172. The cross country experience was in a C-140. Dick and his wife Lorrie were building a life, careers and raising 3 children, and this put a hold on finishing up his pilot’s license until 1996, shortly after he started working with a privately owned oil company in Franklin, PA. The owner was a pilot and was purchasing a Cessna P-210 with the Silver Eagle conversion. Once Dick got his private ticket he spent a few years renting – but was never really happy flying what he calls “ugly spam cans”!
After perusing the homebuilders market via the internet he found Sonex and after some encouragement from Lorrie he decided to jump off and become a full-fledged home builder, despite working 80 hours a week for the oil company. In 1998 Dick started his Sonex project after attending a builder’s workshop and “found out in short order what commitment and dedication was all about”. He claims he also became a “Builder Addict”. His Sonex took its first flight in August 2008.
And here is the rest of the story as told by Mr. Dick Fisher:
“I figured I would have this airplane for many years even though I was not happy with the lack of leg room and shoulder width.
Well, a funny thing happened…in 2009 Lorrie and I sold our home in Franklin, PA and moved to Summerville, SC so I could retire in a warm climate. I never did retire but worked out of my home as a consultant. It was in Summerville I met Dale Williams.
Dale owned an Aerovee powered Sonex and continually complained about the lack of power especially on very warm days. In October of 2009, Dale and I attended the American Sonex Association fly-in in Crossville,TN. It was there I first met Dan Weseman and saw his Corvair powered Sonex. I was immediately impressed with Dan’s knowledge, skill set and his Cleanex..
In February 2010, I found a Sonex builder in Summerville selling his project. Dale and I went to check it out. It had all of the factory kit options including factory built wing spars. I knew there were some assembly problems and that I would have to remake some parts but decided to buy this project anyway. I needed to start building again…and Dale needed a Sonex tail dragger with a bigger engine. The engine choice was clear from the start.. Corvair power. Rescuing this kit also gave me the opportunity to teach someone else how to build an aluminum airplane. Pay it forward… for all of the help I received building my first Sonex.
That November Dale and I attended the Corvair College in Barnwell, SC. and met up with Dan Weseman again. It was there I first learned about the Panther and made the immediate decision to build one if Dan would let me. I also talked him into building a 120 HP Corvair engine for our Sonex project. In 2011 I sold my Sonex and ended up buying a 180 HP Cessna 172 to have something to fly while waiting to see if Dan was going to start designing the Panther.
In 2012, our 3 children and grandkids started a campaign to convince Lorrie and I to move back to Youngstown, Ohio. Snow country is not what I like but I knew Lorrie wanted to move back and I also knew if she wasn’t happy, I would never be happy. So, in September we moved into our new home.
It wasn’t too long after we had settled in our new home I received an e-mail from Dan asking if I was ready to start making wing ribs. I immediately replied to the affirmative and In November I picked up my rib blanks and form blocks.
I am truly excited to have been selected as a Beta builder of the Panther. I am building the tri-gear version. I know once the word gets out and the prototype is flying, Rachel and Dan Weseman will be busy filling orders for plans and parts.”
– Dick Fisher
Below you see Dick with the Panther Wing spar behind him.
Dick has done a tremendous job building and has made great progress considering he started a little late in the game. You can follow his build HERE. Dick brings a more traditional outlook to the team of Panther builders, considering he has a broader background in certified aircraft. This is an important perspective to keep in mind as builders will share this perspective as well. Dick is also very calm, collective and generous with his time – which we will all benefit from personally and professionally.
For now this rounds out our beta builder group. To recap – we have:
Prototype = Dan Weseman = Panther LS Tail Dragger = Folding Wing = Corvair 3.0 L
Beta = Tony Spicer = Panther LS Tail Dragger = Non-Folding Wing = Corvair 3.0L
Beta= Bob Woolley = Panther S Tail Dragger = Non-Folding Wing = Lycoming 0-320
Beta = Dick Fisher = Panther LS Tri-Gear = Non-Folding Wing = Corvair 3.0L
Go team Panther – What a line up!
– Rachel
