New guy Swick questions

[Hal]

Let me start by saying that my end goal is to have a BC12D with clipped wings for single place mild aerobatics, and with an O-200 up front for a small power increase for two place cruise. No electrical system is needed.

Having talked with my local FSDO, they said that by modifying a BC12D with the Swick STC, my airplane would still be in the standard category. I cannot convert the registration to experimental amateur built. Therefore Imust apply the complete STC as written.

My questions are:
1. Is the pushrod and center stick control required on the STC or optional? I would like to keep the original control wheels for normal two place flight.
2. Is changing to an O-200 allowed in the STC or does it only allow for engines larger than the O-200?

Thank you for your help,
Hal

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New guy Swick questions

Ask the person issuing you the STC.... I did not think they would allow Standard Cat any more. To my knowledge you could pick and choose what modifications you needed to do. there were basically about 5-7 mods under the Swick STC.

[Fred]

Re: New guy Swick questions

Hal, I have a Swick Taylorcraft with a stick control. It has a center stick so you can sit in the middle and use the outside rudder pedals and a sort of "U" shaped dual stick for passengers. Actually I use the dual stick all the time, it's just too blind for me flying from the center. Fred

[Hal]

Re: New guy Swick questions

Hi Fred,
The 'U' stick sounds like a great idea. I'm certainly not in love with control yokes. Could you post or send me a picture of your setup?
Thank you,
Hal

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New guy Swick questions

I usually just use the center stick when flying dual! We too have both ways.

[Acroeric]

Re: New guy Swick questions

I think I used to own Fred's swick. . . . the U setup is good but I never could get full aileron deflection when flying with a passenger.

[Hal]

Re: New guy Swick questions

Well guys, I have decided to build an experimental amateur built aircraft that is pretty much a BC12D with the Swick mods. I am going to purchase some used TCraft parts and fabricate enough parts and weld and build enough that it will qualify for 51% amateur built. I am going to keep it light with no electrical system and an O-200. That is my intention anyway. I have scratch-built before and enjoy it very much.

I need all the BC12D printed information that I can get. What books exist that show the internals of the aircraft or otherwise may be helpful? I will also have access an existing aircraft to make detailed measurements.
Thank you,
Hal

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New guy Swick questions

How far are you from Virginia Beach VA? I have a naked 45 Taylorcraft in a barn, fuselage and wing drawings and basically a complete set of parts in boxes. Also a 41 T in a hangar at SFQ. If you are close enough, should be everything needed to make a "homebuilt" copy of a Taylorcraft. You could make tooling from original parts and make copy parts from the tooling.
Anybody know of any legal issues to making a home made copy of a certified airplane?
Hank

[Hal]

Re: New guy Swick questions

Hi Hank,
I live near Charlotte. I do not yet know what parts I may need to purchase. This will probably be a slow moving project. My business is doing pretty bad right now so I won't be able to spend much money.

As far as I know, it is not a problem making an experimental replica aircraft. As long as I don't call it by a copyrighted name or violate a current patent it should be ok. I may be wrong but that is my understanding.
Thank you,
Hal

[mmartin1872]

Re: New guy Swick questions

I don't think theres much for issues for making "homebuilt" copies of airplanes, look at all the "experimental cubs". Up here in Canada, you can actually take a certified aircraft into the amateur built category, but you need to make "51% worth of changes to the aircraft." like clipping the wings, doing the wing strut mods, making a new instrument cluster, "observer doors" installing a baggage box, type stuff.

That is actually what is going to be happening to CFEJX, in the next while. Too Much of a paperwork nightmare to keep it in the "normal certified category" to do the mods that we want to do up here in Canada. We are wanting to end up on amphibious floats, bigger engine, new cowls, seaplane doors, electrical system. To do this up here we can't do the wonderful 337 stuff, so we have to have atleast LSTC's for the major mods, and LSTC's arent cheap to get made up here, (i was quoted $5000 just for the definition)
There is an amateur built "taylorcraft" up here C-GRLA, that I've fallen in love with, and wish I had known that it was for sale a year ago. O-320 set up for floats/amphibs. New fuel tanks giving it about 4 hours of flight time. And a couple of small things done that got it to the 51% mark. I've talked to the builder, and he connected me with the current owner, and I'm hoping to come across a lot of the "paperwork" stuff that he has on what was done.

Up in Canada, for private aircraft, it seems that "amateur built" is going to be the way to go. Normal category aircraft, are being "priced" out of the market for the private pilot, between the costs of maintenance, insurance, and parts. When you can go amateur built, still have an AME maintain it for you, but can get the engines and parts soo much cheaper, and still have a reliable, well built aircraft (especially if you look at things like the Van's RV, the "experimental cubs" the "experimental t-crafts" etc.

Anyways that was a rant and a half, that probably ended up having nothing to do with this topic

Mike

[LostnSpace]

Re: New guy Swick questions

How far are you from Virginia Beach VA? I have a naked 45 Taylorcraft in a barn, fuselage and wing drawings and basically a complete set of parts in boxes. Also a 41 T in a hangar at SFQ. If you are close enough, should be everything needed to make a "homebuilt" copy of a Taylorcraft. You could make tooling from original parts and make copy parts from the tooling.
Anybody know of any legal issues to making a home made copy of a certified airplane?
Hank

Bill Pancake loves Aeroncas so much he built his own homebuilt of a 7AC, and a doctor in Fla. called the local FSDO, asked for guidance on a 51 percent Cessna Skylane, it is finished and he calls it a "Mylane". Living in America is great, I hope it stays that way. O.T.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New guy Swick questions

You have to have a "plan" from the beginning. I still have the F-22 fuselage
here for sale price is down to $4750. Fellow from AK seemed interested. Same hook-ups as the BC12D , F-19 etc.... just wider and nicer , no bar behind seat perfect for 51% . I have a pair of metal spar wings from D that will fit up .... Come see... Forrest