looking for T-Craft

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Sounds like this spring may be a Barn Raising party in MD! You buying the Pizza and beer? I like Negra Modello and Pizza with the works.
Drive up, build pole barn, drag wreck back! Sounds like a plan. Hope it works out.
Hank
Have hammer, will travel! :hammer:

[lfries]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Good luck on negogiating the price and finding a hangar. When I see Baltimore by your name I start to think of my 9 months at Bainbridge Maryland going to a Navy School. Baltimore was my liberty town. Went to a Church out near the Colts stadium. I have good memories of your area.

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

YES! Hangar was OLD and constructed of wood with tin roof. Could have been reinforced but wasn't. I THINK hangar was over 45-50 years old. Needed work which wasn't done. It was open hangar like a farm shelter for equipment. Worked well as wind could go thru which kept aircraft safe from humidity which is HIGH in Maryland in summer (and winter). I will be getting some idea of price of salvage from Avemco soon. Will let you know. I have found another T-craft, BC12D, very nice award winner, 65 hp, and if price can be agreed on will buy it but must find new place to keep it. Otherwise I shall turn in my goggles and helmet for good. (Heavy snow finally did the hanger in.) JC

[mulwyk]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim:
I'm thinking of building a new hangar this spring and I'd like to be sure it doesn't crush my T-Craft some day. Any ideas on WHY the hangar collapsed?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim,
Send me the contact info and I will connect Dennis up, either with you or the insurance company. Can you ask the insurance rep what they would sell you the rights for?
Did I understand that you found another Taylorcraft?
Hank
hjarrett2 at cox dot net

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Avemco has totaled the T -Craft. GAB Robbins, a divison of Avemco now owns the airplane. I am not sure if I have right of first refusal but will know shortly. MANY parts, engine, panel, interior, prop are still first class as is tail and 3200 scott tail wheel. Aircraft is still located at W42 Fallston. They are making arrangements to have it removed and taken to salvage yard in Delaware if no one buys it. Wings are done for, gone. ALL logs since new go with aircraft incl. pictures of rebuild, engine rebuild info, etc. JC (Greg Pike of Robbins is fellow to contact.)

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim,
I got with Dennis and he is interested in seeing if he can restore your wrecked plane. Can you PM me with contact information and I will get you guys together.
The guy is a real artist with a welder and I'm sure from your description he can make her whole again. He is looking for a plane with everything there since it's the little stuff that drives you crazy in a rebuild. You can fix almost anything if you have something to work with.
I'm hoping you guys can work something out. There is just something about having one of our Taylorcrafts go to the scrap heap and get parted out. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. ANYTHING can be fixed, and Dennis is a guy who can bring her back from the dead (at least the steel parts, might needs some wings from what you described)!
Hank

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

I will keep you informed! I do NOT want to part it out. I want to be rid of it. Avemco gets bids on it I am told. Will keep you posted on this. Appraiser has not arrived....from FLORIDA! JC

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

As I said I just want to get paid from Avemco. I suppose they would auction it off. I don't know how they do this. The appraiser still hasn't arrived due to the weather. (He is in FLORIDA!) I'll keep you posted on this! JC:rolleyes2:

[Larry Lyons]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim, if you end up parting it out, people like me need almost everything you would have for sale. Like your interior, I know my bird will be red and cream someday so your interior might be something I would be interested in. Anyway food for thought. Larry

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

A 185 on floats almost makes me throw myself down the stairs! ALWAYS wanted either a 180 or 185 but never could scrape the money together! Now I have to fly LSA. (Still don't have the money anyway!) I've watched light aircraft being rebuilt. Done right, its alot of work and if life was fair, my T-Craft, if I had paid for the quality and care that went into it....it would have cost me 50,000.00. I am VERY impressed with builders who can do this type work. I've never understood how a Cub (which is real boring to me) can cost so much more than a nice T-Craft...or how a Super Cub (nice airplane) can cost more then a pretty nice Cessna 310! JC

[cropduster]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim, I just listed my F-21 since I just purchased a Cessna 185 on amphibs. It has full electrical system, the fabric is recent with new struts. Just installed a new seaplane prop before putting it to bed for the winter. Beautiful airplane with wheels, skies, and floats. Currently on floats. Funny, I purchased this airplane not far from you a few years ago.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: looking for T-Craft

We are just finishing up a ground-up restoration on an Aeronca 7AC and have kept extensive logs of the process. When we finish there will be about 600 man-hours in it plus about $6000 in parts and outside repair shop work. There is no engine work in these figures. We did not have to make new spars, and fuselage repair work was minimal.

So that is a $30,000 rebuild if labor goes at $40hr.

[jim cooper]

Re: looking for T-Craft

I agree! I just want my insurance money (what I insured it for which was 26,000.00. ) I've been with Avemco since 1975, never had a claim. The airplane is of no use to me but to a GOOD rebuilder, its worth a good bit. The builder had it in trade a plane for 29,000.00 but the bottom fell out of the market last year, and he had borrowed a hangar to assemble it. (he builds them at home, takes the various parts to the airport-puts them together.) I'll NEVER find another like it! JC

[MNJoe]

Re: looking for T-Craft

Jim,

I probably was not clear when I had to deal with Avemco a couple of years ago. Unless things have changed with them even without seeing pictures of your aircraft the cost to recover my hail damaged T-craft exceeded$20,000.00, the airplane had probably 15-20 holes in it and was insured for what I remember was $26,000.00 Unless you had yours insured for more than
$50,000.00 it will most likely be a total loss. Avemco gave me two choices with mine:

1. Total loss
2. Salvage value

With Avemco there was no first right of refusal like other companies have. Just be careful if you take salvage value make sure you have a buyer otherwise you will be stuck selling the airplane.

Alot of guys on this site will say you can recover one for alot less than what I said above and you can, however this is why we buy hull insurance.

Joe