Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

[Gerald McKibben]

Has anyone heard about the L2M that crossed the Atlantic? He took off from Sacramento and flew to Labrador, then across the Atlantic to Europe, down to the Middle East and took a picture of himself standing beside his the plane in front of the Jerusalem Terminal. A local pilot bought the plane and a friend of mine flew it to Mississippi from Phoenix en early February 2017. Photo below (taken today) shows the tail no. The only verification I have apart from the previous owner's story is the following from : http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=64628

“There is a neat story of a guy that flew his 65hp taylorcraft across, toured the continent, and flew it back across. The plane was for sale last year, back in California. “
The last part of this tale differs from what my friend was told. He was told that after visiting Jerusalem the owner flew back commercial and had the T-craft shipped back. (I would have too!).

[Guest]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

I never have. Seems like a challenging trip

[waltermrich]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

That would be an incredible story would like to hear the details

[lfries]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

He spoke at a Taylorcraft Rendezvous 20 plus years ago at Columbia, Ca. I can't remember his name. Ron Sawyer might know. There is a West Coat Taylorcraft group on Facebook where he could be found. It was a very interesting presentation.

[Edwin Otha]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

He spoke at an antique group I belonged to back in the late 70's. I think his name was Harshberger, had a bunch of equipment in the plane and it weighed a ton. The way I remember it he flew it there and shipped it back. Used a neat trick to gauge wind direction and speed, dropped a dye pack in the water and did a standard turn around it. Through some kind of magic formula he could calculate his drift, must have worked he got there.
EO

[Gerald McKibben]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

It's still got a lot of equipment for a 65 hp plane. There's a huge wind generator hanging just beneath the left wing strut, and three venturis. There's a glideslope, a VOR and a panel mounted radio. I'm doing a story for our local EAA Chapter site on the flight from Phoenix to Mississippi, so I'll get more info soon. My friend who flew it here said it is "heavy and slow". He told the new owner that most of that equipment doesn't work. Below is a photo of the plane at the Jerusalem airport. The owner and pilot, I assume, is the gentleman standing by it. This photo came with the packet included with the recent purchase. The FAA Registry calls it a Model DCO -65 and the owner listed is still the man from California. The sale to the Mississippi man was made about three weeks ago.

[M Towsley]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

After seeing the picture I now remember seeing the plane for sale some time ago. 65hp L-2's aren't exactly performers, more drag and slower than a BC-12. As a purist, that paint scheme is awful.

[Gerald McKibben]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

I've learned that the previous owner, whose name is Les (the one who recently sold it to someone near my home in Mississippi) plans to be in this area some time soon. I hope to meet with him and learn more about the epic flight. It was his ownership partner who flew across the ocean. All I know now is that they removed the rear seat and replaced it with a 75-gallon fuel tank. That, plus 25 gallons in both wing tanks combined was apparently all that required. My friend Richard, who ferried the plane to Mississippi from the Phoenix area, said that despite the wind generator and three venturis he still made about 85 mph. Not bad. Les had flown it from Sacramento to Phoenix.

[M Towsley]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

That must have been a special Taylorcraft to go 85 with all that weight and junk hanging off of it with a 65. Over 450 lbs in the back seat area makes me scratch my head. I don't have my old W&B info from my L-2 but that sounds a tad heavy, (tongue -in-cheek). And, stock L-2's have six gallon tanks in the wings for 12 gallons total plus the two gallon header tank behind the instrument panel. I just cannot see a plane that normally grosses at 1,325 lbs can carry 750 lbs in fuel along with pilot and equipment, (not counting the weight of the plane). The plane would be grossly over-loaded and I cannot see how it could get off the ground.

More documentation/pictures would have been nice from the original trip.

[Gerald McKibben]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

That must have been a special Taylorcraft to go 85 with all that weight and junk hanging off of it with a 65. Over 450 lbs in the back seat area makes me scratch my head. I don't have my old W&B info from my L-2 but that sounds a tad heavy, (tongue -in-cheek). And, stock L-2's have six gallon tanks in the wings for 12 gallons total plus the two gallon header tank behind the instrument panel. I just cannot see a plane that normally grosses at 1,325 lbs can carry 750 lbs in fuel along with pilot and equipment, (not counting the weight of the plane). The plane would be grossly over-loaded and I cannot see how it could get off the ground.

More documentation/pictures would have been nice from the original trip.

Nobody said this one was stock; his range was 5 hrs burning 4 1/2 gal/ hr. That's about right for 25 gallons capacity. You could fly for five hours and still have at least a 30 minute reserve.

[M Towsley]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

What do you mean by not being stock??? Ok, lets say 100 gallons of gas, (definitely not stock). You advised it was a 65hp plane. I find it difficult to believe it would get off the ground. I flew a 65hp L-2 and with full tanks, (14 gallons of fuel - not 100 as described in this plane we are talking about), and with two passengers it was not a blistering performer. I'm just saying I cannot see it being done with that description of fuel and equipment.

[David Price]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

Around the World on a Shoestring.
Has Hoffmeyer flew his BC12D down from Canada, the west US ,Mexico ,Central America, South America, to Chile and up the east coast of the Americas, thru the Islands to Florida, on to East coast Canada to greenland and back down to Oshkosh in 2004, back to the NW USA to Victoria, Canada.
It used to be on the internet.

[mike lutz]

Re: Taylorcraft flies across the Atlantic

Used to be able to google earthrounders, and he had a log of his trip there. That airplane was my Grandfathers back in the 40,s and early 50,s. He has flown it to OSH a couple times also. Was there last year.