Seat modification for BC-12?

[rh1936]

Is there a seat modification to lower the seat bottom for more headroom? I sat in a Taylorcraft an owner wanted to sell, but the top of my head touches the diagonal tubing at the ceiling. I am six feet tall with a sitting height of 36 inches. I would need an extra 1 or 2 inches beyond that, I think, to be comfortable in the plane. Taylorcrafts seem to be priced right for what I need in an aircraft and that is why I might go to the trouble of a seat mod. Thanks for any help.

[Acroeric]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

You can turn the wooden support on the forward side of the seat to lower it about 2 inches if not already done. I am 6'1" and fit in them fine as long as they are equipped with the skylight. I even have been known to fly them upside down and not hit my head (clipwing). I recently flew a really nice F19 and there is no way I could fly it for long as the plastic headliner really hangs down.

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

Well now two choices as I see it, You can: 1. Lower the seat. How you may ask? Well simply get a seat sling made-The seats are a simple canvas sling-- get one made custom if you cannot get the existing one lower . It screws /adjusts to a piece of wood in front and under the seat obviously you want to make the adjustment /have one made that is longer 2. Your other choice... find another airplane.
Tribe? what else can the man do?

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

I am 6'4" not sure what my sitting height is, but it is tall. Unwind the seat sling a turn or two. I have a friend that is 6'1" tall and we flew from Georgetown Tx to Oshkosh in one day in the tcraft. That is over 900 miles in about 10.5 hours. It took us two to get back as a T-storm delayed us 3 hours. The next day, we were home in that 3 hours.

Ok, it wasn't as comfortable as I would like, but it was a helluva time!!!

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[paulnuss]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

I am also tall, 6'4", and have owned and flown Taylorcrafts for about 28 years now. As suggested before here, you can "lower" the seat sling by winding it down to just clear the tubes underneath. My bottom cushion also is a thinner-than-standard one. I have a headliner, and can clear it OK by doing the above, and can also see out the windows to the sides. I haven't hit my head yet, in turbulence, or even when on occasion some mysterious unknown force temporarily flipped me inverted! ;-)) For extra clearance, in anticipation of that sort of possibility, I have also removed the back cushion so that I could wear a parachute, and have found adequate room.

In the back of my mind, I have been thinking of "homebuilding" a clip-wing T-Craft replica, that would incorporate a couple inches extra headroom and cockpit length and width. Obviously the Taylorcraft Model B was designed for 5'6" 170 lbs. and ubder pilots of an earlier age. However, I realize that one change begets ten others, and the multiplication of engineering hurdles becomes daunting.

[Victor Gisclair]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

boy it's nice to be short (5' 6"") and own a T-Craft. The only problem is as I get older I get wider. No problem, if I fall in any direction I just roll.

[stormman]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

surrounded by giants?

[VictorBravo]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

My friend Jack Norris has developed an STC to build a wooden seat for his Luscombe, which I believe uses the same type of sling. I planned to contact him for a copy of this STC, perhaps it can be extended to cover the Taylorcraft as well. I will report to this group on the result.

Bill Berle

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Seat modification for BC-12?

The Jack Norris seats in a Taylorcraft would be nothing short of sensational! He uses wood huh. I thought with the neat clam shell arrangement they must be metal or fiberglass. All the better. I will use post haste in the 1940 clipwing as I dont need to wait for "approval" by big brother.