Metal spars

[fridlo]

I'm a new guy, have tried to find the answer to this in the forum, without success. I've read that all BC-12-D's have aluminum ribs. What about spars? Did earlier ones have wood spars and later ones aluminum spars? Does anyone produce the aluminum spars?

Thanks, Fridlo

[M Towsley]

Re: Metal spars

To my knowledge all pre-war and post-war were wood spars. I have never heard of a factory Taylorcraft being built with an aluminum spar.

Someone else will chime-in with additional info, I am sure.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Metal spars

Rumor has it that there are a few out there with factory metal spars. They may have been built for a foreign government. I think there is one advertised somewhere on the net that says it has metal spars. There was also the Swick STC to convert to metal spars, but I'm not sure it applied to anything but the clip wing.

[Bigdog]

Re: Metal spars

The pre-war DC-65's had aluminum wings, both spars and ribs. The four YO-57's were metal as well then they switched to wood spars and ribs for the L-2 war production. The D spar spacing is the same as the B (and the Cub) so it's possible some D wings wound up on a B.

[M Towsley]

Re: Metal spars

Greg,

Interesting about the DC-65's, do you know of any specific one that has that, n-number? I have never seen any history on that. Thanks for the info.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Metal spars

There were approximately 100 BC12d-1-2 built after the war with aluminum spars. I have a pair of those wings. They are built in the same manor as the DC-65 using alot of the same parts.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Metal spars

The pre-war DC-65's had aluminum wings, both spars and ribs. The four YO-57's were metal as well then they switched to wood spars and ribs for the L-2 war production. The D spar spacing is the same as the B (and the Cub) so it's possible some D wings wound up on a B.

D wings are not interchangeable. The aileron control system is completely different. I own one of the 4 YO-57's as well. All the civilian "D" models had aluminum spars and ribs. They also have a lighter gross weight than the military "D".

[Nefj40]

Re: Metal spars

Just going by what I've read on this site, there was a few that left the factory with metal spars. Here's a quick example...

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?10720-Anyone-looking-for-parts&p=84557#post84557

LOL, see above poster.

[M Towsley]

Re: Metal spars

Hey Mike,

Curious as to the weight difference. Any idea why they did not continue with aluminum spars?

[Bigdog]

Re: Metal spars

I don't know of any DC's but my YO-57, s/n 4008 has metal wings. Here are some pictures of the wings, obviously in need of restoration. The pic of the ribs shows how they attached to the I-beam type spars. The metal rib is from the YO-57, the new one is from a set I built for my TG-6/L-2 and the others are factory from another L-2A/B. As a matter of interest the metal is lightest. They weighed: metal - 23.2 grams, factory wood - 27.7 & 28.3, mine - 30.6 grams. Mine is probably heavier because I used 1/4x1/4 in some places instead of 1/4x3/16.

[Edwin Otha]

Re: Metal spars

My DC has metal spars. It's 36354 s/n 4091, I didn't buy it new so it might have picked them up in it's history.
EO

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Metal spars

Hey Mike,

Curious as to the weight difference. Any idea why they did not continue with aluminum spars?

Im sure it had to due with production costs. They use L-2 compression members and spacers to make up the difference for the I beam spar, plus little tabs top and bottom to attach the ribs via friction. I can see them being a PIA to assemble in a factory. I think they are heavier than a B wing, but definitely lighter than a wood l2 wing.

[M Towsley]

Re: Metal spars

Im sure it had to due with production costs. They use L-2 compression members and spacers to make up the difference for the I beam spar, plus little tabs top and bottom to attach the ribs via friction. I can see them being a PIA to assemble in a factory. I think they are heavier than a B wing, but definitely lighter than a wood l2 wing.

Thanks for the info Mike. Always like to learn interesting Taylorcraft history.

[Ryan]

Re: Metal spars

Forrest has/had some metal spars for the B model in his barn. I think he said he had around 8 sets or so. Not sure but they may have been NOS

[N96337]

Re: Metal spars

I'd say cost was the main reason they didn't keep using them. They couldn't even afford wood back then...my spars have over a dozen pieces in them. My friend that worked there in the 40's said they were constantly out of money.
John