Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

[jwomble]

In Peck's book on Taylorcrafts the 65 hp model could cruise at 95 mph at 2150 rpm at sea level. On YouTube videos of Tcrafts which show the airspeed indicator usually indicate somewhere in the upper 80's. I have never been in a Tcraft - used to fly a PA18-95 that indicated about 95 at cruise. So will a stock 65 hp Tcraft cruise at 95 mph as listed in the specs?

[barnstmr]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

It all depends on the prop. Get yourself a 1B90 7343 and you will be pleased.

[M Towsley]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Well, prop and proper set-up of the plane. Wood will be about 10mph slower, but looks better on the plane. Metal is where it is at for speed. But again, the plane has to be set-up right to achieve that.

[tcraft759]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Day 6 last week of A65-8F break-in on '46 BC12-D with W72CK42 Sensenich wood prop.... calm wind, OAT 65°. IAS confirmed by GPS groundspeed +/- 2 mph.

Helen

[woodmw]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

The airspeed indicator is showing indicated airspeed. True airspeed, the number most authors use in their reviews, will almost always be higher. 5+ mph increase would not be unusual on a hot day. Grab your trusty E6B and check it out.

[cvavon]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Yes they will and maybe a little more when my plane was a A65 it would do 100 +/- with mc 74/43 prop now with C85 and and Sensenich 72/40 2550 RPM 110 mph here are a couple photos when it was A65 calm day no wind

[Pearson]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

In Peck's book on Taylorcrafts the 65 hp model could cruise at 95 mph at 2150 rpm at sea level. On YouTube videos of Tcrafts which show the airspeed indicator usually indicate somewhere in the upper 80's. I have never been in a Tcraft - used to fly a PA18-95 that indicated about 95 at cruise. So will a stock 65 hp Tcraft cruise at 95 mph as listed in the specs?

Jwomble,

You are comparing apples and oranges. Also there is some missing information. How an airplane is rigged will make a difference in it's cruise speed, as well as the pitch of the prop. You mention seeing speeds in the upper 80's in videos, but are comparing it with sea level performance figures from the book. I can tell with certainty that my 1946 BC12D, with a 65hp engine and 45 pitch prop, will indicate 95 easily if I am the only one onboard. It does this at only 2000 rpm. If I were to push it up to 2150 rpm, it would easily indicate 102 to 105, depending on the temperature. I can also tell you that it is not rigged 100% perfect.

There are many variances in tachometers, airspeed indicators, engines, and so on, that have an affect on speed. So it is very possible that the same plane you saw indicate upper 80's in the videos would indicate 95, or even better, at sea level depending on the temperature and how heavy it was. But that doesn't mean it is actually going faster. Upper 80's indicated at altitude will probably be faster than 95 indicated at sea level, depending on the altitude & temperature.

In the picture below you can see that I am only indicating 75mph. But what may be a little harder to see is that I am at 12,000 feet. My TRUE airspeed was somewhere around 93mph. I hope this helps.

[M Towsley]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Wow, my plane must be out-of-rig, though it flies nice and true. My cruise is about 80 mph with the same wood prop Helen is using, though she is pushing rpm a but more.

[cvavon]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Marty i have done a lot of looking at props and have figured out that a wood prop can very so much from moisture the wood that the manufacturer used and a hole bunch of other factors. With that said wood is so beautiful but there are no two the same. Now my next change is a Catto wood composite prop they are the current hot set up Rod Hanson is using one on his Tcraft. waiting on some numbers to see what works. The new Sensenich that we put on at annual is working real well all the numbers are good. To bad your not closer i have a Mc 74/43 that you could try to see what it would do.

[M Towsley]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Thanks Chuck, I have had metal props and they are always more efficient. I went with wood for the look, I don't plan on getting anywhere fast anyway. Anyone flying a T-Craft is in the same boat. It I want to go fast, I ask pretty-please and hop on my friends' Cessna CJ.

[cvavon]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Will try out new prop next week end going to fly-in at Gaston's Resort in Lakeview Arkanasas OK 18 Supper Cub fly-in the 23ed threw the 26 it's a benefit for the Wounded Warriors. Will have STOL contest and will see what Tcraft will do up against supper cubs we will get pictures.

[lynnlpitts]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

My BC 12 D( N43213) that I rebuilt when I was a kid in the sixty's indicated 103 with a Flottorp 72x50 (recommended by a man at Wag Aero, when I ordered the prop). Don't know if this was actual or not, but the plane kept up with a lot of other planes. It also had great short field abilities. My F-19 N3692T cruises at 102 without really pushing it too much. N43213 allowed a poor college boy many hours of cheap flying. 73's, Lynn

[crispy critter]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

I've owned nearly a dozen different taylorcafts in the past 17 years or so and I always liked the McCauley 74/45 prop on the a65 which is standard pitch by the book. With that prop I have always been able to give a good wash job, tweak the rigging, and can always get 100-110 at 2150 in a stock A65 taylorcraft.....a couple I've got a tick more then that. So to answer your question, Yes.myou can easily get 95mph out of a stock A65 taylorcraft....usually even with a wood prop but that does make it a little slower.

[Pearson]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Wow, my plane must be out-of-rig, though it flies nice and true. My cruise is about 80 mph with the same wood prop Helen is using, though she is pushing rpm a but more.

Marty, have you checked your tachometer? 80 is slow, even for a wood prop. Is your stall speed somewhere around 38 to 40? If not, maybe your airspeed indicator is off.

[M Towsley]

Re: Can a 65 hp BCD12 cruise at 95 mph?

Tachometer is brand new, but was off anywhere from 50-80, but am taking that into account. (It is currently back at Mitchell for repair). I checked it early on with an optical tach.

A/S confirmed with GPS. Apparently if flies straight, just could be tweaked. Stall is around 34 mph indicated.