46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

[Robert Lees]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Anecdotal recollection of "flattened" wing tip bows reminds me of a discussion many moons ago, perhaps email-list days, whereby wingspan is measured from one wing extremity to the other, so if tip bow lights were installed, the tip bows had to be "flattened" slightly, to allow for the extra span (1 inch each side?) caused by the tip lights.

Does that ring any bells with anyone?

My 1946 Taylorcraft was originally imported to the UK from Texas in the late Eighties with the tip light fittings (but no lights), and the old tip bows were definitely flattened (They later got "flattened" a bit more by over-enthusiastic shoving through hangar doors, not by me I add, and anyway I have since then rebuilt the whole aeroplane and replaced the bows with EMT and got rid of the light fittings + wiring and got a nice continuous curve! )

Rob

[jwomble]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Another dumb question - if this is another flying in need of restoration Tcraft then why is the IA who signed off the annual as pictured in the add not concerned about liability. If the aircraft is obviously not airworthy why would he risk signing off on it. Could it be that the aircraft is just be ugly close up. At 11,000 seems if the engine is sound then it is worth the money in parts.

[N96337]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Another dumb question - if this is another flying in need of restoration Tcraft then why is the IA who signed off the annual as pictured in the add not concerned about liability. If the aircraft is obviously not airworthy why would he risk signing off on it. Could it be that the aircraft is just be ugly close up. At 11,000 seems if the engine is sound then it is worth the money in parts.

I know IA's that will sign off an annual with just a set of log books and a check...cash is even better....they're out there.
John

[af1zaf1z]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

underpriced assumes there is a real market for T-carts. Not in my experience.

[t-crafter]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Hank, what would the original fire extinguisher and first aid kit look like so I can start looking for them? Just to increase the plane value a little.
Who knows I might lucky !!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

The fire extinguisher was called a Pyrene and this is the nicest one I have seen. The extinguishers are fairly common but the mount isn't. You need to be careful with them and make sure they have been cleaned properly. They originally held a pretty toxic chemical. The most valuable ones are un-restored, but honestly for one of our planes I would rather have one that looked new with a clear label and polished (polishing REALLY drops the value for some reason).
The floor board photo has teh original mount still in place but that plane had the actual extinguisher missing.

I wish I had a photo of an original first aid kit (even better a sample) so I could make copies. All I have seen is that it was listed as standard equipment on some sales papers. Anyone else have a photo?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

I also found an original battery box for a pre war (my records only say "Carl" loaned it to me) and I used the photos and measurements from fire extinguisher plane's floor to locate how it mounted (still had original holes for all the stuff that was mounted). These photos are of Carl's box on an original floor and my replica on my 41 floor.

Hank

[woodmw]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Here's some on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xpyrene.TRS0&_nkw=pyrene+fire+extinguisher&_sacat=0

Let your wallet decide....

[jwomble]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

So are saying Tcrafts have little value because they are old and antiquated or does that describe the pilots? The average Tcraft seems to list for about 20,000 give or take a 1000 - don't know what they are actually sell for. I am 71 and plan on buying one more airplane next year. The difficulty entering one vs a Chief may defer me to the later. But if you can get a third class med then a metal Cessna 150 may be a wise decision - will see next year.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

The trick to getting into and out of a Taylorcraft is to keep DOING IT! I have a broken window regulator on my Miata and needed to move it today. I haven't driven it is over a month (stinking cables are almost IMPOSSIBLE to find!!). I thought I was going to DIE trying to get down into that thing! Same thing happened when I didn't get in or out of the Taylorcraft while rebuilding her. It was MISERABLE.....for the first 4 or 5 times. After that your muscles and bones start to remember what to do (and NOT do) and it gets easier and easier. If I am climbing in (even if not to fly) at least once a week I am fine. NO problems at all, and I am 6'+, 200#, 65 years old with three herniated discs in my back and bad knees! It is like moving into a single story house after getting "too old" for stairs. It used to hurt a little to climb the stairs, after 6 months in a single story, YOU CAN'T! Get the plane you want and your body will follow your heart.

[clear_prop1961]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

Here are some period aircraft first aid kits.

[jwomble]

Re: 46 Taylorcraft on Barnstomers with fresh annual - 12500 - what gives?

It's ironic that C G Taylor had polio when he was young which caused him pain and a partial disability for the rest of his life yet he designed the Cub and the Taylorcraft, neither one which is easy to climb into. Of course people did not live as long back then so old guys did not fly such craft. I've read Peck's book so much it is falling apart - thought the A models were really neat even they flew with 40 hp.