In 1964 Air Parts (NZ) Ltd. purchased the rights to the Fletcher FU-24 agricultural aircraft from the Fletcher Company of California, USA. In 1973 Air Parts was amalgamated with AESL to become New Zealand Aerospace Industries Ltd. , which in turn became Pacific Aerospace in 1982. During this time the FU-24 had been manufactured in two models, the FU-24-950 (190+ built) powered by a 400hp(298kW) Lycoming, and the FU-24-954 (40+ built) which has a higher maximum take-off weight at 5430lb(2465kg). The Cresco was a turboprop development similar to the FU-24-954 but with a longer nose, a large dorsal fin and a cargo door on the port rear side. A number of FU-24’s have been converted to take a turboprop engine.

VH-PGE                c/n 16                  New Zealand

2 seat agricultural aircraft first flown in 1979