The FIKE E is a rare, experimental light cabin monoplane designed by William J. Fike, a retired airline pilot based in the Big Lake and Anchorage areas of Alaska. The aircraft is most distinguished by its extremely low aspect-ratio wing of 3.0:1, a design choice intended to provide stability in a compact airframe. Fike, who had been designing aircraft since 1929—beginning with rudimentary designs described as "flying orange boxes"—developed the Model E as a culmination of decades of work, following his earlier Model C in the 1930s and Model D in the 1950s. Fike further shared his expertise through his self-published work, Practical Lightplane Design and Construction for the Amateur, with editions released in 1955 and 1978.
The prototype, registered as N1408Z, was completed by Fike and achieved its first flight on March 22, 1970, at Big Lake, Alaska. A second example, registered as C-GRSM and sometimes referred to as the "Fike E 'Dream'," was completed in 1975 by Rudi Marczi in Ontario, Canada. This second aircraft incorporated various refinements, including smoothed aesthetics and components sourced from the Piper J-3 Cub. While homebuilder plans were marketed for approximately $37.50, no commercial series production ever occurred, and only these two registered examples are documented.
Technically, the FIKE E is a high-wing cantilever monoplane utilizing a NACA 4409 airfoil. It is powered by a Continental C85-8 air-cooled flat-four piston engine producing 85 hp at 2,575 rpm, paired with a 74-inch Sensenich metal propeller. The aircraft's dimensions include a wingspan of 22 feet 4.5 inches and a length of approximately 19 feet 7 inches. With an empty weight of 690 lb and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,100 lb, the aircraft is capable of a maximum speed of 120 mph and a cruise speed of 95 mph. Its range is estimated at 450 miles with maximum fuel, though other performance estimates cite a range of 280 miles and a stall speed of 37 mph.
Operating exclusively in the civilian experimental category, the FIKE E served as a personal recreational aircraft for its builders. The prototype N1408Z was deregistered in 1992, and the current status of C-GRSM is unknown. Despite its rarity, the design persists in the scale modeling community, where laser-cut kits and free-flight plans remain available.