Taylorcraft Anniversary Go Around, AirVenture 2021

[Mark Bowden]

Here’s hoping that 2021 is better than 2020 and everyone’s New Year is off to a good start.

To that end I will pick up planning and organizing for doing our Taylorcraft anniversary at AirVenture this year. As before I would ask for help, ideas and anything you might offer to make it a great event.

While last year was the anniversary of the TC for the BC12-D, this is for all models and any year.

I have started this effort again and I spoke with some EAA staff. As of now they are planning on having the event. It will be different as you might expect. Expect mandatory mask requirements, changes in layout to facilitate social distancing and other changes to minimize risk of Covid transmission. This may include “spaced out” parking and camping. Nothing is set as of yet.

They also expect many challenges in attendance and logistics on the ground, parking and aircraft camping. More info to follow. They haven’t been able to do much in the past two years on “aircraft features and historical anniversaries” and this year has anniversaries as well. So everyone will want their day in the sun with limited space and resources. Stinson is going to be a focus.

We can still work to park together but they expect challenges. It maybe that only those of us that get in Friday as a group might get to park and camp together. Saturday arrivals into a reserved space they feel might be a challenge.

Additionally while the FAA doesn’t want mass arrivals blocking airport access to everyone else the only practical solution to getting to a reserved spot as a group will be for us to meet at a staging airport and then fly in train to the NOTAM procedure and get in line without hitting anyone.

EAA is proceeding as if AirVenture will happen. Obviously the risk is that federal and local agencies will have a say in what happens and this means there is risk that it could be canceled again. Timewise that go/no-go decision would be in May again.


Fingers crossed everyone!

[Mark Bowden]

Hi, I have had a couple of conversations with Tim Fox at EAA for Air Venture this year.

They would definitely like to have a Taylorcraft anniversary again. They are trying to honor all the anniversary plans from last year and of course do those important ones this year.

This could be a lot of fun and will be great to see everyone again in person!!!

For this celebration my thought is that while the 75th anniversary of the BC12-D was the reason to do something.
I believe we should celebrate all Models and have as much participation as possible. Bring what your have, more the better!!!


They are anticipating a very well attended show this year given the pace of vaccinations, Sun-n-Fun's apparent success and everyone's spring fever from being cooped up due to Covid.

To that end as he has responsibility for all parking everywhere he is asking that we begin to collect a count of those Taylorcrafter's that will attend to get us parked together as a group similar to other anniversaries.

His recommendations are slightly different from the past.
1. Assemble at a staging airport and do the arrival in-train as a group. We'll work on signage to have in your a/c to help the marshaller's get us to a spot.
2. As before, arrive early and Friday is best. A Saturday arrival will be further away.
3. A second group arrival on Saturday won't be guaranteed to be with the Friday group. They will do there best but given the anticipated crowd it may not be possible.
4. Mid week departures and arrivals can swap spots with pre-planning and being ON TIME. They will give it there best try is all he can promise.

Please PM me or post here if you want to go. I'll be starting the attendance count list to coordinate with him. I have 3 already that have said they will go, and I plan to bring 39911.

Also please post what airport you think might be a good staging airport (or airports) as well as your logistics suggestions. And any other ideas you have to make this a success.

Thanks, Mark

[Mark Bowden]

Hello all,

Based on traffic here, it is evident that there is no interest in participating in a Taylorcraft anniversary at AirVenture this year. Therefore due to timing, I’m going to inform Mr. Fox at AirVenture that there is no interest and to no longer hold a parking area for Friday or Sat Taylorcraft arrivals or try and swap midweek departure and arrival parking spots.

In a few conversations with others, reasons can be many with valid concerns about EAA accommodations and current health concerns. However what we don’t want as an owner’s group is a poorly attended event.

I would offer two suggestions:

1. We could do an 85th anniversary event in 2022 next year to commemorate the development of the Taylorcraft Model A (Type Cert., ATC 643, 6/11/37).
We would celebrate more of a Company start up and ALL model celebration.

2. In four years, 2025, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the BC12-D. Can also be a celebration of all models.


I would advocate an event in 2022. It is a nice anniversary and we wouldn’t be in a year with so many overlaps from this and last year.

Our group here is extremely valuable in terms of person to person comradery and we as a group are the only means of product support. It’s good to get together. We all get returns out of marketing our brand and as we get back to life after COVID impacts I would encourage a focus on getting back into the field in both large and small ways.

A big way like an 85th next year and also in the everyday small ways like Young Eagles, local pancake breakfasts, VAA/EAA chapter fly-ins. And big tip of the hat to the West coast Taylorcraft/Luscombe fly-in!!! Awesome idea.

Hope to see some of you at AirVenture.