Data plate location?

[PA1195]

What's the preferred location for the airframe data plate?

Gary

[Guest]

Re: Data plate location?

On the airframe?

I couldn't resist, sorry, sometimes I am just so clever, .

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Data plate location?

On the airframe?


I couldn't resist, sorry, sometimes I am just so clever, .

Dave

[1938BF50]

Re: Data plate location?

Anywhere but the stock location on the RH door entry fairing (not one of Taylorcraft's better ideas). I moved mine to the panel on the left and out of harms way.

[PA1195]

Re: Data plate location?

Thanks for the advice. Mine's stuck on the back of an aluminum bridge built over the bungee truss. It in turn supports the seat support brackets. I'd like to move it so it's more visible in case I'm asked during a ramp check.

Where on the door fairing was it originally attached? Maybe a picture would help?

I can put it anywhere but some inspectors (especially for rag Pipers) expect to see it on the wood floor under the front seat. Just trying to avoid future issues.

Edit: I had a flashback from 40 years ago. Seems like it was on the flat portion of the lower RH diagonal of the door frame. Is that what others have seen? And yea, I did survive the '70's.

Gary

[3Dreaming]

Re: Data plate location?

I have seen them on the floorboard, the cable cover by the left door, and on the flat face under the front of the seat. In all three cases it looked like a factory installation. I also seem to remember seeing one on the instrument panel.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Data plate location?

They are all over the place. My 41 and 45 both had it just ahead of the kick panel on the wood floor boards (pilots side) but another common place is on the cable covers under the door (where your foot will hit it all the time). If you put it as far back as you can on the floor boards it seems to be back enough to not get banged on by shoes.

Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: Data plate location?

Not sure if it is original but mine is also on the right door sill/cable cover plate. I can take a picture next time I am out there.

[PA1195]

Re: Data plate location?

Thanks folks for the helpful replies. I ended up screwing it to the passenger side tempered aluminum floor as close to the right rear as possible. My interior and baggage area are fabric on the sides so no material to attach it to. I did find a pile bathroom floor mat with a sticky backing that fits the entire front floor and will cover the exposed Grove brake cylinders and protect the data plate from wear and debris.

If I were 74 years old this coming Friday like that data plate I'd not want someone stepping on me with wet feet.

Gary

[Jim Herpst]

Placement of the Data Plate. Getting EVERYTHING ( I can )fitted before starting painting I am on to interior pieces in stripping and fitting. The last piece was the vertical piece between the floor and the seat. The one there was a mess. Dented, apparently not original and if so so terribly fitting as it looked to be a poor attempt at something supposed to be fitting. It also had the data plate attached to it which had a layor of almost its now going on 80 years of scum to where it was almost unreadable. Took it off and in the process of cutting a new piece of aluminum to replace the piece it was mounted to I realized the data plate needed serious attention. One hour of very light regular sand paper and very light sanding of the silver raised ID items on it with some more cleaning with bartenders friend followed by a clean rinse and dry and then a application of a coat of clear has it looking like new. The data plate was mounted on the right side (co-pilot) side. I am going to put it back there when the new up right panel piece I fabricated today is painted. I think it is best put there as it is out of the way and not so subject to being hit with the shoes/feet (I will be putting it up towards the top) still on the co pilot side. It almost seems like that is where it should be...still able to be seen but enough out of the way to eliminate potential damage. I would never put it on the floor or anywhere wher foot traffic could damage it. Shees entire planes are built around them. Lets protect them all we can!

[EXPlanes]

I left my data plate as found on the aircraft prior to rebuilding it. Thought if I tried to clean it all the screen printing would come off. The numbers on mine are stamped. Any cleaning ideas or just leave it as is? DataPlate.jpg

[Jim Herpst]

Understand .Yours appears to have taken more of a beating as by where it is mounted . Also you appear to be an earlier year. My data plate is for a April 4 1946 build. The shape is rectangular and the paint is all there and appears ery durable. Yours being all chipped around the edges, I would hesitate to do anything to it sans a complete restoration of it ( masking detail to the silver areas sanding to feather the paint and re spray of the black) Actually yours IS clean. Mine was such one could barely make out the details due to, for lack of a better term ,some scum layer over the entire thing.

[3Dreaming]

Understand .Yours appears to have taken more of a beating as by where it is mounted . Also you appear to be an earlier year. My data plate is for a April 4 1946 build. The shape is rectangular and the paint is all there and appears ery durable. Yours being all chipped around the edges, I would hesitate to do anything to it sans a complete restoration of it ( masking detail to the silver areas sanding to feather the paint and re spray of the black) Actually yours IS clean. Mine was such one could barely make out the details due to, for lack of a better term ,some scum layer over the entire thing.

His is from a F21. The two places I have seen them mounted from the factory were on the kick panel below the seat, or on the cable guard down by your left foot as you are flying from the left side of the airplane. The A model had it mounted on the wood cover behind the "Y" column. You can see the cover here, but not the data plate. It was a little closer to the kick panel. default (28).jpg

[EXPlanes]

Correct mine is a 1983 version F21A. Seems like the older plates were made better. Location is similar as seen in the photo.

[EXPlanes]

Similar as on copilot side bottom door frame