Clipped L2 info

[Airbiker]

Hi folks,

About eight or nine years ago, I got my tailwheel endorsement in a clipped wing DCO-65. I remember the instructor mentioning something about it being a Duane Cole STC, but I'm not sure if that is correct.

The wings looked like they had been clipped on the outboard side judging from the position of the strut attachments on the wing (far outboard). It had square tips with plexi stall fences. The engine was a VERY broken in C-75 that he estimated might still be putting out around 50 hp . I remember it was a fun plane to fly, with light control forces (compared to a J-3) and I flew it all over Northern Oregon and the coast.

Can anyone enlighten me on the particulars of the Duane Cole STC and if it applies to an L2 or DCO-65 configuration? It seems that a clipped wing L2 with an O-200 and light wood wings would be a lot of fun. I'm willing to go the experimental route to get one put together.

You guys have posted a wealth of info for clipped B models, but I haven't found anything here on clipping the tandem ships.

Thanks,
Ian Henehan

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Clipped L2 info

cole never had an STC and his mods was only for a "B" model. Swick had the STC and it was only for a "B" model. L-2 is too heavy to have clipped wings. It has not tendency to float like a "B" does.

[d.grimm]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Ian,
Why don't you take the N-number from your logbook and order the CD from the FAA at www.faa.gov and look at the actual airplane records and see how it was done?
Dave

[Vasey fan]

Re: Clipped L2 info

In the early to mid '90's there was a clipped tandem ship in the Tucson area, owned by a couple named Roberts IIRC. Only one I've ever seen. Don't know where it went after they sold it. I think it was actually done by a guy named Pete Miller, from the Chandler area, though he passed away some years back.

Sorry for the vague & unhelpful post.

[Chet Peek]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Airbiker, fly a DC0-65, or better yet a DC-65 first. Then you will never clip the wings. Chet Peek

[Airbiker]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Dave - Good idea. I forgot about that option. My instructor had reassembled the DCO-65, but the wings were clipped before he got the project. I asked him about it a couple years ago and he said it was done 'ala Duane Cole'. Unfortunately, he has passed since then and we lost a huge wealth of knowledge and experience with these little planes.

Chet - I haven't had a chance to fly a stock DCO-65 or L-2. I've flown J-3's, Champs, Citabrias, etc, but I still preferred the handling and qualities of that clipped DCO-65. Other than the worn out engine, it seemed to perform well. It certainly wasn't a hot ship to land.

However, I can see this isn't a popular idea. That is worth taking into account as I plan this project.

Maybe a better question is what most folks want when they clip a B model. Less float and better crosswind handling? Speed and handling? Aerobatic capability? My interest is more in line with the first two items. I have a Pitts S1 that covers my acro needs.

Thanks for the input,
Ian

[mohawktipi]

Re: Clipped L2 info

There is a clip wing L2 on Barnstormers.com. Search "Taylorcraft" and it is on the last page (3) after it is filtered. Looks funky but It might help in your process. I have thought about a clip wing L2 myself. I have a L-2B in military dress but I won't mess with it.

[Airbiker]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Wow. That is funky. Not much wing left and set up with anhedral. Looks like the tail is chopped down or reshaped as well. That's way beyond what I have in mind .

I ordered the CD from the feds for the DCO-65 I used to fly. Once that shows up, I'll post the details on what was done.

Thanks,
Ian

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Clipped L2 info

L-2's dpn't float like a "B" and are quite a bit heavier. If you want to do acro, clip a "B"

[Airbiker]

Re: Clipped L2 info

L-2's dpn't float like a "B" and are quite a bit heavier. If you want to do acro, clip a "B"

My Pitts S-1S covers all the acro I like to do. It's fairly stock with 180hp, fuel injection, full inverted systems, etc. I've competed at the intermediate level a little and have started flying advanced sequences this last year.

I will probably never be able to fly the Pitts to it's full capability, but I'm willing to try. Figuring it all out is what makes it so much fun.

Is the wing chord the same on L2's and B's? If so, the wing area is pretty close on the stock planes. A little more on the B. Gross weight is 1320lbs for an L-2M and 1200 for a BC-12 if I remember right. How much span are most guys clipping on the B's? I would expect less for engines of 100hp or less. Maybe more for the bigger engines? Stall speed and "float" are pretty much driven by wing loading.

Thanks,
Ian

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Chord and wing area is the same. L-2 is a good 150+ heavier than most B's. Cole clip was one bay. Swick clip was 1.5 bays or the spacing on the outboard bay.

Float is not driven by wing loading completely. The HUGE difference is the notch in the wing next to the fuselage. It allows compressed air to escape and eliminates alot of float in the L-2. Luscombe employs the same notch and does not float either. A DC-65 has a 1200 lb gross, no notch, and tends to float.

[Airbiker]

Re: Clipped L2 info

Chord and wing area is the same. L-2 is a good 150+ heavier than most B's. Cole clip was one bay. Swick clip was 1.5 bays or the spacing on the outboard bay.

Float is not driven by wing loading completely. The HUGE difference is the notch in the wing next to the fuselage. It allows compressed air to escape and eliminates alot of float in the L-2. Luscombe employs the same notch and does not float either. A DC-65 has a 1200 lb gross, no notch, and tends to float.

That makes sense. The clipped DCO-65 I flew was a fastback with no green house or notch. That may have been the difference that allowed the lower wing area to work well for that plane. It might have been a brick if it had the wing notch. Wing loading would still have been higher than a B with the same area.

Thanks for the information. It is a big help to adjust my expectations and plans.

Ian

[jim cooper]

Re: Clipped L2 info

there is a clip wing, red white and black, owned by an airline pilot at D79, Dart airport, western N.Y. for sale, or it was last october.

[jim cooper]

Re: Clipped L2 info

I forgot: there is a red white black Taylorcraft at Dart also a trophy winning 85 hp reid clip wing cub, both are for sale. The cub is standard cub yellow. The taylorcraft engine was just gone over. Cub has around 150 200 hrs.

[jartz]

Re: Mayville NY Clip Wings

The red and black T-craft is an experimental, now a single-seater. It was a BC12-D I think. Don't know if it's still for sale - I looked at it last summer, and then talked to Forrest about it. It wasn't right for me. I haven't seen the Cub in person but talked to the owner about it - (had a plan to fly up but the weather was bad), then the winter came.

PM me if you'd like.

John