Top Cowling

[flyguy]

If anyone has a line on where I might get a top cowling complete for a short (normal) mount, I am in need of one. BC12D-85, but it is on a short mount.
Darryl

[paulp]

Re: Top Cowling

Howdy Daryl,

I beleive that the factory has some short cowls in stock. Give 'em a call and see what they've got.

[flyguy]

Re: Top Cowling

Paul,
Thanks for the information. Problem is, I couldn't get the factory to answer the phone before they decided to move, and I still can't get them now.
Only way I would buy a part from them now, considering all the problems I've heard about, would be to go down with cash in my hand and exchange it on the spot for the part. Like a drug deal in the movies. That's a sad state of affairs.

Forrest was correct. The new factory should just sell parts, getting sources for everything going and approved, and then start putting airplanes together.
You have all kinds of competition in aircraft sales, even after it is certified, but there aren't very many people selling Taylorcraft PARTS. The profit margin is probably higher for parts anyway. I guess making AIRPLANES is just a lot more glamorous than doing the grunt work to have a sustainable business.
Darryl

[ROllerton]

Re: Top Cowling

Have you tried Wagaero?

Maybe they got one with the purchase of air repair?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Top Cowling

Paul:

The cowls themselves would be easy to make (or have made). The difficult parts are the channel hinge section that hold the two cowls together.

Do you have any of the parts at all?

Rob

[paulp]

Re: Top Cowling

howdy Rob,

No I don't and I don't know where any of the extrusion can be found. I got very, very lucky and picked up my extrusion at an auction. I checked with a
place here in OKC that has a lot of dies and mfgs or forms a lot of extrusion. I showed a guy my ext. and he said that I could have a die made and that they could then form same. Checked with a place in Chicago that could make the die but I could buy another Taylorcraft for what they wanted!!!!

I have alaways got my eye out for Taylorcraft stuff but that extrusion is hard to come by. If I find anything, I'll be sure to let you know.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Top Cowling

That's OK, Paul, because if you have the extrusion, the rest is a piece of cake.

You could either have them made under "owner-produced parts", or make them yourself under "owner-produced parts", yes, the same rules. The top cowl is a simple curve, reinforced with a riveted stringer...your friendly RV builder could help you with this.

All the fastener parts are available from Aircraft Spruce.

The "ends" of the extrusion I made (from steel), so you could have my old one to use as a pattern.

[flyguy]

Re: Top Cowling

Everyone:
Thanks for the input. Actually I have a complete cowling. It's just that the right half seems to have found itself wrapped around the right jury strut and is in pretty bad shape. I have all the parts and can probably make up one, but I thought I would try to find a new one. Silly me.
If anyone knows how to get in touch with Taylorcraft in La Grange please let me know; as I said I can't get them on the phone number I have.
Well at least I did get rid of the noise problems with my ignition, so it is kinda one step forward and ten steps back.
And yeah, in case anyone is curious a BC12D will fly pretty much normal with a piece of the cowling hanging on the right jury strut (just drifts to one side a little bit.)
Darryl

[jgerard]

Re: Top Cowling

Funny, I took some buddies sky diveing from a J-3. It didn't seem to care that there was someone squating on the right front wheel before jumping. She too seemed to fly just fine with all that extra drag on one side.

Jason
N43643

[Robert Lees]

Re: Top Cowling

Jason: In that case you'll know what I felt when I dropped a jumper from my BC12D. First of all, it was F@Eh"^........
no, I mean it was *?$"~........
well, it was ..VERY cold on the climb-up!

Then the idiot decided to climb out...and hang on to the strut and door-frame for a look-see at the local scenery before jumping! Well, the elevator was a-flutter, the rudder was all over! This was no real problem...the big issue was that he introduced a bigger draught into the cockpit, so I became EFFIN cold!

Needless to say, when I stalled-turned, he let go.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Top Cowling

I can supply a oval 6061 extrution 1 1/8" * 1/2" for a reasonable price I belive it would make a good cross bar for the cowling.
Len Petterson.
Send me a privat message and let me know what you need

[mhorowit]

Re: Top Cowling

Have you tried Wagaero?

Maybe they got one with the purchase of air repair?

don't poke the hornet's nest
don't urinate into the wind
don't urinate on the electric fence
don't tug on superman's cape
don't wake sleeping dragons.