Wanted BC12D Post-war Flying Wings

[jsapiano]

I know it's a long shot, but I'm looking for a set of post war BC12D wings that are covered and ready for install!

Mine need new spars which I am currently working on. Unfortunately, I'm only able to work in an unheated space, so that much of the work can only be done in the summer months. With the time that I have it will be 2 more summers before I can fly again.

Perhaps you have an extra set, or even a rebuilt set for a project that you just can't finish?

Any leads would be appreciated!

Joe

[Robert Lees]

Hello Joe, and welcome.

Just buy another airworthy Taylorcraft to fly in the meantime while you work on yours as a medium-to-long term repair/restoration project. Then sell the first one and bingo! You'll have your own beloved Taylorcraft back without having lost any flying time!

Rob

[Hank Jarrett]

Rob, that was what I did, but I ended up having TWO planes being redone! The 41 WAS much better condition and took a LOT less time to get where I wanted her, but Joe needs to NOT fall into the trap of starting to work "fixing up" the flying plane!

Hank

[Robert Lees]

Well Joe should buy the "temporary" aircraft in as best condition as he can afford, which is what I did.

After I finished my rebuild project, I did sell the "temporary" Taylorcraft, and it is still based at my home field under it's new owners.

It was "temporary" for six years, mind you!, and not without it's technical issues during that time!

[Hank Jarrett]

That sounds like a great way to get more T-Friends at your field. Everyone who tries flying a Taylorcraft seems to fall in love with them. Even the 200 Knot speed demon flyers!

[Robert Lees]

We used to have 50% of the UK Taylorcraft fleet at my airfield; we lost a few in the meantime. But I reckon about 40 pilots have cut their taildragging teeth on that little black-and-cream Taylorcraft here at Leicester, UK. And yes, Hank, several of them are owners of very much faster machines! And not a scratch upon it, apart from some very minor hangar rash. All checked out by various check pilots, and no right-seat brakes.

Several US pilots (some on these boards) have also flown it.

[jsapiano]

Thanks for the advice. I had this in the back of my mind as well but was trying to avoid adding another "project" on my plate. If anybody hears of anything, please let me know.

[N96337]

Where are you located?

[jsapiano]

I'm up north in Canada. West coast.

[beaverbill]

Our local EAA Chapter has a very nice set of pre-war wings and a good fuselage that we would like to sell. Also ailerons and brand new sealed struts. I'm happy to provide more info for anyone who is interested.
Bill

[jsapiano]

Can one of you please list the differences between pre and post war wings. I know about the stamped ribs vs wood truss type and the fact that the aileron brackets were steal vs magnesium. Were there any other differences?

Thanks again, Joe

[Hank Jarrett]

LOTS! The pre war wings used built up "stick" ribs from aluminum "T" sections, not wood. Wood was used on some planes built during the war but I don't think any were ever used on the side by side planes (open to correction here, but I have never seen one). Pre war planes normally had the welded aileron fittings and 13 ribs per wing. Just before the war the first Deluxe planes had 15 ribs, still using the built up ribs. I "think" the trainer and normal side by sides still had 13 stick ribs per side. After the war Taylorcraft still had the hydroform machines they built sub contract parts with and started the shift to 15 per side stamped aluminum ribs. A VERY FEW planes were built with what looked like hand made stamped ribs that were slightly different from the production versions, but I could only find evidence of two ever being built with them (I own one). If anyone comes across any "funky looking" stamped ribs, let me know! After the first few post war wings Taylorcraft switched to the cast aileron hinges. It seems the factory wasn't above using left over parts from before eh war on the first post war planes so there are a lot of minor differences. Nothing surprises me any more.

Hank

[3Dreaming]

My 41 BL-55 had 15 rib wings. It was built in April 41. Based om that I think once they started with 15 rib wings they all got 15 rib wings. There were a few post war planes that also had the built up ribs before the switch to stamped.
According to Terry Bowden the early airplanes with the 13 rib wings can have the gross weight increased. I think the big difference is the VNE. The early airplanes had a lower VNE.

[Hank Jarrett]

I have a feeling (nothing much to back it up) that there could have been a LOT of pre war parts put in post war planes. Taylorcraft wasn't a group to waste anything that was "left over in the barn" after the War. Wouldn't surprise me a bit that they could put a pre war wing set on a post war plane if they found them in storage. My 45 has 1010 steel in the fuselage (yet to find a piece of 4130) and I am pretty sure the fuselage was a left over one from 41 that was reworked. Also as I said before, she has sheet metal ribs but they are NOT the same as the hydraformed ones from later. They look like the edges were had formed down and not machine formed. Same profile and seem completely interchangeable. My best guess is the first form blocks didn't completely form the edges but they fixed it on a later form block.

Hank

[N96337]

My friend Ken, that worked at Taylorcraft in '46, told me that they grabbed whatever was available to get an airplane done. If there was one of something on the shelf, they grabbed whatever matched it from another era. He said the only constant was change.
John