Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

[taylorcraftbc65]

I am running out of time with the airport closure where my Taylorcraft is hanger d, So we will probably have to trailer her out. The person that want's to buy it can't for several years, so I am going to narrow the fuselage, and shorten it as well, lowering it's moment arm, due to the lower engine weight of a 1/2 Volkswagen engine. Because of the lower weight, I can install a lighter main gear system, and if the weight of the stock wings doesn't put me over the Part 103 limit, then I will use them, and need to know the assembly torques. If not, I will install a set of semi symmetrical Phantom ultralight wings and struts, dropping the empty weight substantially. Then, I will have an Ultralight with the Spirit of a genuine Taylorcraft, something NO replica would ever have.
Brie

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Brie,
You are joking aren't you? You can build a full size version with a single seat layout using UL methods (aluminum tube) and a VW that would do what you want and better than making major mods to a "real" "T". If it is full size you could add a second seat when they change the rules for UL (which I see coming).
Changing a certified plane in this way will run you into MANY problems with the Feds and making an UL Taylorcraft would be easier and have more appeal if you decided to share the design. I started just such a design several times, but always came back to a certified plane.

Hank

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Actually Hank. I'm not. This HAS to be done, out of necessity. What you DON'T know is this. In 1986 my medical was busted by Dr. Audie W. Davies, Chief Aeromedical Examiner at Oklahoma City, for my then recent Gender Reassignment Surgery. (In 1950, I was born intersexed, and back then, parents had the choice of what the kid was to be identified as. A week later, after some external surgical wizardry, I was pronounced a "Male". Too bad they were wrong, at 39 years of age they found a bunch of female internal organs). Anyway, I got a letter telling me that to prove I wasn't crazy, I had one month to provide two letters from two psychiatrists, and two letters from two psychologists, DIFFERENT ones than were used to get my surgical clearance, or my medical would be suspended. I changed the rules, moved to the South Pacific, and eventually wound up flying heavies for a Foreign flag carrier with a Foreign licence, and a Foreign medical for years. Now I am back in the States, the new DSM-5 just out, REMOVED Gender dysphoria from the book, there is now nothing officially wrong with gender dysphorics, but in order to legally fly sport pilot with a drivers license medical, I have to have ANOTHER class 3 medical, which at 64 I am SURE that they will find something "medical" that they can bust me on. I have been flying for decades without an American medical, but with all the DHS insanity landing in full "Battle Rattle" alongside a just landed aircraft with a blackhawk, it's time for me to change the plane into something that I can legally fly right under their noses, and they can do nothing about. The plane still hasn't had the AD's pulled on it, so I will just change it from an "aircraft" to an "Ariel Vehicle" (how the FAA classifies ultralights, so as NOT to have to mess with them). This is just something that has to be anymore.
Brie

[woodmw]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Legal Eagle Ultralight

https://www.betterhalfvw.com

[M Towsley]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Hi Brie,

I think all you have to do now is get a waiver and let it expire and fly Light Sport. (I am really trying to remember if this is the way it can be done. I have not read up on this in a few years). Contact the Light Sport Branch in Oklahoma and ask.

As for the ultralight, unless you can get that plane down to 253 pounds and five gallons of gas it is not an ultralight. (Again, working off of memory). My Air-Bike was a 'heavy' ultralight and the Feds allowed them to be 'N'-numbered, etc., as Light Sport Experimental. That was a one-time thing and that offer from the Feds has since expired.

Best of luck to you!

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

I have a full scale replica of a 1929 Aeronca C-2 that I and a few friends collaborated on the design of, and I now have. With a 36HP four stroke flat two cylinder Continental designed military surplus
genset engine, (the 2A042), it weighs 252 pounds. It has a 4130 thin wall tubing fuselage, and aluminum latter type wings, with aluminum struts. The engine weigh 79 pounds, all up with prop. (I have two 2A042's which are half of a 4A084, and six 084's). I am sure that if I take a 10 inch wide centerline slice down the fuselage, go to 2024 legged main gear, and 6061 ladder style wings covered with the lightweight sailcloth ultralight wing fabric, I can get the plane down to the weight of the C-2 replica. I talked to someone from the ABQ FSDO three years ago, and he told me that I would have to have a 3rd class medical, and have it NOT get nixed by the bunch at OKC. I know exactly how THAT would wind up, so I have to play it safe.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Legal Eagle Ultralight

www.betterhalfvw.com

That's what it would wind up looking like, but with the top longerons being up where they are on the Taylorcraft. If I needed to, I would also have the fuselage aft of the seat back uncovered like on a lot of the Legal Eagles.
Brie

[M Towsley]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Here is the one I was thinking about Brie.

If a person has been granted an authorization (special issuance), that authorization must not have been withdrawn.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Here is the one I was thinking about Brie.

If a person has been granted an authorization (special issuance), that authorization must not have been withdrawn.

If you were sending an image, I couldn't find it Marty.
Brie

[M Towsley]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

No, that second line I typed is what I was talking about. You can also get a special issuance. I pulled that off the internet, no image intended.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

I still think a scaled down BC-12 to fit YOU made from aluminum tube could make UL and fly very much like a full size "T". You might want to go with a stick instead of a wheel, but I kind of like the wheel.
Sure would beat destroying a flyable factory bird.

Hank

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

I'm looking at several options right now Hank, The only thing that is cut in stone, is that T-27 will close on March 31.
Brie

[3Dreaming]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Brie, you have nothing to lose by trying to get a 3rd class physical, except the cost of the physical. If you pass you can just let it expire and fly as a sport pilot. If you don't you are right where you are now. It would be worth making a call to an AME and talking to them about it, or maybe even OKC. If you are otherwise healty I think it would worth a try.

[Marv]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

Go for it Brie. If laws are passed for sport pilot as they are trying to do, you will be able to fly a Stinson 108-3 on sport pilot.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing bolt torques for a 1940 BC-65

I will call the AME in ElPaso tomorrow, and see what he says. (He is a pilot). If I get passed him in the conversation, I will call the aeromedical branch at OKC, and tell them about the Surgery, and the fact that I am stone deaf in the left ear, I have been since 1970, and passed class threes, until Davies busted me for the surgery under 35.1 I believe. If they tell me that there is no problem, then, I will make the appointment on Monday.