New addition to the fleet!

[VanDy]

Grandpa picked up a Tcraft the other day, needs a little work, mainly a propeller and paperwork cleaned up. Hope to have it flying in the next month or so. Not really sure what grandpa has planned for it, but I'm hoping he at least takes it up and around the patch a few times and gets a BFR in it, its been a while since he's flown so i'll sit right seat for him at the least. Without further ado, a picture!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

PRETTY BIRDIE!

Hank

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

PRETTY BIRDIE!

Hank

Thanks! it even has the hub caps that go with it too. I personally am partial to the fenders, they go good on these old gals

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

How about more photos! Especially the interior. N number and SN?

Hank

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

I haven't had a chance to look over thebooks yet, but according the faa.gov its N5178M, SN: 10478, quite a bit newer than my N96999, SN:9299! I'll try to get some interior pics this weekend. It looks pretty decent, except the panel looks like it was sprayed with truck bedliner.

How about more photos! Especially the interior. N number and SN?



Hank

[Ryan]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

Thanks! it even has the hub caps that go with it too. I personally am partial to the fenders, they go good on these old gals

I think you own a measurable percentage of those cow shit deflectors! Actually next time you are at airport mind sending a pic of the attach points? I have a set, would be nice for spring time. Glad to see another tcraft getting back up.

[Marv]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

I notice it is registered as a BC12D1 but it has a left door. Maybe that is some of the paperwork that needs cleaned up.

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

I think you own a measurable percentage of those cow shit deflectors! Actually next time you are at airport mind sending a pic of the attach points? I have a set, would be nice for spring time. Glad to see another tcraft getting back up.

I will try to grab a couple pictures of them this evening, I love the fenders, keeps the cow shit off the wing, and they don't get clogged when you land in the long grass!

I notice it is registered as a BC12D1 but it has a left door. Maybe that is some of the paperwork that needs cleaned up.

Thats one of them, butthe TCDS says its eligble for them, so it shouldnt be an issue catching that one up, I hope

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

Please POST the photos! I have a set of those "deflectors" too but no idea how they mount. I like them better than the pants. The pants LOOK better, but are a PITA on grass.

Hank

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

Please POST the photos! I have a set of those "deflectors" too but no idea how they mount. I like them better than the pants. The pants LOOK better, but are a PITA on grass.

Hank

I was going to post the photos, until you said the pants look better! lol I'll be at the airport this evening to grab a few pics.

[Joe cooper]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

I was going to post the photos, until you said the pants look better! lol I'll be at the airport this evening to grab a few pics.

With the exception of the Stearman, every other light taildragger I've owned has had wheel pants. ( 2 140 cessnas, 3 Taylorcrafts, 2 champs.) I have landed countless times on grass runways, in fact most of the time. I have never encountered any problem with grass binding up the wheel pants. I'm speaking now of mown grass runways, not unimproved pastures, etc. once in a great while, if the grass runway was VERY wet , some mud would stick but easily flushed out with a garden hose. A 65 hp taylorcraft is not a good candidate for an unimproved strip ( as in Ohio bush pilots.) you may get in, but not enough power to get back out. It's a matter of opinion but I never cared for the looks of the alternative. They remind me of the fenders on a farmall M model tractor.

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

With the exception of the Stearman, every other light taildragger I've owned has had wheel pants. ( 2 140 cessnas, 3 Taylorcrafts, 2 champs.) I have landed countless times on grass runways, in fact most of the time. I have never encountered any problem with grass binding up the wheel pants. I'm speaking now of mown grass runways, not unimproved pastures, etc. once in a great while, if the grass runway was VERY wet , some mud would stick but easily flushed out with a garden hose. A 65 hp taylorcraft is not a good candidate for an unimproved strip ( as in Ohio bush pilots.) you may get in, but not enough power to get back out. It's a matter of opinion but I never cared for the looks of the alternative. They remind me of the fenders on a farmall M model tractor.

A couple of the strips that I fly out of are occasionally too wet to mow with the big tractor, but not bad enough for a Tcraft so the grass can get fairly long in the spring. I watched a really nice 177 almost not make it out last summer, although that was mostly technique as well.

I was busy and didnt get to getting the pictures last night, so I will shoot for this evening.

It has been converted to a BC-12D with the left side door and right hand wing tank, will be fun to see what the paperwork on it says.

[VanDy]

Re: New addition to the fleet!

And as far as unimproved fields go, the most I do is my Brother in-laws beans fields after harvest and the occasional hay field, keeps the mud off the wings!