Any News on the Factory?

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Forrest had the complete Airworthiness Alert posted on the forumn with the help of other tribe members within three hours of the phone call from FAA Andy McAnaul. The FAA still treated the Foundation like a Type Club and other information was given to them . We will monitor the results of the inspections and hope that you tribe members will respond to the FAA requests for comments.

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Forrest / Anyone!

Any news of the Factory? Any likelyhood of spares production in the near future?

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

This is certainly hard work finding out what is going on! obviously one of the worlds best kept secrets!

The reason I am persisting with my quest for information is because it has major ramifications for me in the UK with regard to getting my F22A on to the UK CAA Permit system which would make maintenance a whole lot easier seeing as it is the only model of it's kind in Europe and thus an airframe spares nightmare.

If the Factory is just a figment of the imagination of some would be entrepreneurs so be it but the UK CAA take the lead from the FAA who seem to take the view that if a TC holder is breathing that he is about to produce certified spares!

So any information PLEASE guys - I can't believe it wasn't discussed around the camp fire!

[Robert Lees]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

There is no news on the factory.

Does that suffice?

[dennispip]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Me thinks that suffices...Peace

[barnstmr]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

RobertP,
I am not knowledgeable about the requirements of the UK. But the fact is at this time there is NO factory support for spares or any other information. But you should advise the UK authorities that there are a handful of other entities that provide parts, engineering support, and other information. Here is a partial list.
Univair - They are a former holder of the A696 type certificate. Since they had all of the drawings, they obtained parts manufacturing approval for a number of the most profitable parts and are still supplying FAA approved PMA replacement parts for a number of Taylorcraft parts.
Wag-Aero - They are a competitor of Univair who also has PMA approval of several parts and also have FAA Repair Station services to make repairs on parts like Lift Struts, engine mounts, fuel tanks, and exhaust.
Skybound - Has parts for Shinn Wheels, Brakes, cables, and Backing plates.
Taylorcraft Foundation / Forrest Barber - Has a surplus supply of NOS and numerous used parts. Also has copies available for many of the factory drawings.
Certified Aeronautical Products - Holder of STC for B-series and D-series Taylorcraft for engine upgrades. Also is active in providing engineering and certification support for all vintage airplane makes/models. FAA-DER on staff.

We all would like to see the factory back and making parts available again. But it may never happen. So rather than wait, these other entities are our only option for assistance. They are not bad and they are getting better.

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Terry,

Thanks for your response, sadly spares for the F22A are very limited amongst the sources you have suggested but there are several who you suggest which are new to me so here's hoping! I thought I was asking a reasonable question in my original posts and I do not understand the sensitivity over the factory as they either intend to produce spares or not period! However seeing as I seem to have jarred a nerve in the realms of the Taylorcraft Foundation I will do as requested by Rob!

It is relatively easy for those who are clearly skilled engineers to maintain their aircraft on a permit system in the UK but not for mere mortals like myself who do not possess those skills or be fortunate enough as yet to be part of that system and must therefore rely on others in the USA! I would add that there are only two of us outside the Permit system in the UK hence why the happenings or otherwise at the factory are important. Happy days!

[barnstmr]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

RobertP,
The point that needs to be made with the UK authorities is that there is no word from the factory. However there IS technical support available through the type club network via the Foundatiuon, the forum, et.al. Limited, YES. But I have seen a lot of resourceful results from the Forum and that is worth a lot. No it is not the same as having the factory support, at this point this is the best there is.... and its not too bad really. Costly, maybe. But such is the life of an owner of a rare vintage airplane.

Tell the UK authorities to learn from the FAA and give credit, listen, and respect the input of the type-club networks like this forum.

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Hank,

Thanks - checked mine out and all OK. The drain hole is very small but seems to be doing the job.

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Terry,

In the UK aircraft on the Permit system can be maintained with the owner doing his own work which is then signed off by a LAA (Light Aircraft Association ) Inspector. This has a considerable cost saving and also makes it much easier to source your own spares as they do not in general have to stand the scrutiny of the normal CAA certified spares audit trail.

Aircraft on permits are in general home builds or the older aircraft such as The tail dragger Taylorcrafts or orphaned aircraft where there is no TC holder and as such little or no spares support.

Some years ago all the UK Tail dragger Taylorcrafts along with some cubs and other similar aircraft were transferred on to Permits by the CAA. My F22A and the other F19 which were flown together across from the USA just before the company went bankrupt, for some reason (possibly being 1991 vintage and therefore more modern ) were not transferred across to the what is now the LAA Permit system and therefore remain in limbo on the CAA licensed scheme which means that all work has to be carried out by a licensed engineer and any spares have to be subject to a certified audit trail.

It is for this reason that the Factory and it's ability or otherwise to produce certified spares is crucial to me, you can imagine the problems you would have in the States obtaining certified spares for your aircraft so you can multiply this several times over if you live in the UK and own a F22A!

I had a meeting with the CAA last year to attempt to get my aircraft on to the Permit system and they are not really interested in type clubs etc as in general these clubs do not produce certified spares and all the CAA want to know is there a TC holder and is he producing or likely to produce certified spares!

The CAA were sympathetic to my cause but at the time the TC's had just been taken over by the new factory owners and the FAA told the UK CAA as a result of their own enquiries that the new owners intended to produce certified spares across the board plus I believe some new aircraft models and therefore my aircraft was now supported! You may recall that it was actually me who broke the news to the Foundation of the factory purchase as a result of these enquiries.

It is now down to me to prove (if it is in fact the case? ) that there is no spares production likely to take place and therefore my aircraft is no longer supported. I guess it may come down in the end to me travelling over to the States and gaining photographic evidence etc of the current state of the factory as I can't imagine that the FAA will agree that this is the case.

Sorry for this diatribe, but information about the factory may in the end be the difference between keeping my aircraft flying or otherwise and hopefully explains my persistence over the subject.

[mikerice]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Robert-
I was in the San Antonio FSDO yesterday and could have asked around for you regarding the Taylorcraft factory status. If anyone knows, the FAA should be the first to know, because the type certificates are important to them.

I have had some contact with the new Taylorcraft webmaster as recently as July 29, and he says they are "going slow" (an understatement).

While I was hopeful after the acquisition of the drawings and tooling about a year ago, there has been absolutely no publicity regarding intention or future direction of the company. I believe they got more headaches than they bargained for and are working on other projects - the Factory is definitively not in operation, and it is unclear if it ever will be restarted. If you need pictures, I have a friend in Brownsville who could drive by and get them for you.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Mike , I can use the pictures..... I talked with FAA on the recent Airworthiness Concern down there and they have heard nothing.
MIDO was here today on an original certification and I asked the manager to make an inquiry .

[RobertP]

Re: Any News on the Factory?

Mike,

Thanks that could be very helpful and in fact any information would be helpful. It is a strange situation because in my case it is better for me long term if the Factory fails to make spares as it makes my case with the CAA for a transfer to a Permit much stronger! On the other hand I really want to see it be a success for the Taylorcraft Community in general and I would be happy to remain with the CAA system if that was the case - Funny old world! anyway thanks again.