Wooden trim tab???

[Szpmichael]

Re: Wooden trim tab???

Thanks for the response everybody! Hank I may email you and ask for that drawing in the next couple days. Ryan, can you tell me if your wooden tab has the same setup as mine with a solid piece of wood and pop rivets? If not ill probably start looking to replace it with either the tab on wag aero or from hanks drawing.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Wooden trim tab???

I think Wag Aero is selling the early wood type, at least for the L2.

[Ryan]

Re: Wooden trim tab???

Wood is original to early bc12ds. They have become quite mixed in the field over the years. Taylorcraft switched to metal in may of '46. I will try to find a photo of mine uncovered if someone doesn't beat me to it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wooden trim tab???

Wooden tabs were used on a lot of Taylorcrafts. My 45 has wood tabs and they are different from the metal ones as they go all the way to the root end and are shaped to the trailing edge curve of the inboard trailing edge.
What sounds a little "off" about yours is they were NOT supposed to be solid. They are from plywood with holes cut in them to lighten them. They have metal fittings and a wire hinge pin that runs the full length of the tab in a slot at the front. The other thing is they should not have pop rivets. The originals had solid rivets (although they look more like they were made from old nails).
I have a drawing of the wood tab here (someplace) and the tab is uncovered and off the 45 right now. If needed I can trace the tab and you can make a new one in a day. The only thing I would worry about is if yours is too heavy. A heavy trailing edge combined with loose hinge or actuating arm could flutter. You DO NOT want flutter in the elevator system. Don't let ANYONE ever tell you a Taylorcraft is too slow to have flutter problems! If it ever happens to you the sound alone will mess your pants!
If you want me to take photos or find (draw a new one) drawings, drop me an email. My box here is ALWAYS full!
Hank

hjarrett2
at
cox
dot
net

Anybody else I owe drawings to, let me know. I am really behind.

If you can't figure out that address you really shouldn't be flying airplanes. ;-)

[Don]

Re: Wooden trim tab???

I have a BC12D, an early model 1946. It has an aluminum tab. I have never seen a wooden tab on any Talorcraft.

[Szpmichael]

Hi all

I've got a '46 bc-12d at Santa Paula airport in Southern California. While my mechanic and I were troubleshooting a stuck trim tab he took a closer look at it and became skeptical of its origins. It is a solid piece of wood with hinges attached by pop rivets. Before sending me back into the air he wants to know if this was a factory part or something that someone just made for it so I'm wondering if anybody has this same setup on their t-carts or knows anything about it. Ill try to attach a photo

Thanks!