1943 L2M, buy help

[glyn thrash]

Hello,
First let me say this is my first post on here..

My X-wife's father has a 1943 taylorcraft L2M that he is wanting to sell. i can't find hardly any information on this airplane. i can find stuff on a 44 model but not a 43.
it has been setting in a 1/2 shed for a couple of years and he no longer flies and is wanting to sell. the engine is a 65 cont, he says it has low time, around 80 hrs. the body isn't in that bad of shape but for sure needs work. whoever put the paint on the fabric didn't do a good job. the paint is chipping off, it never soaked into the fabric but the fabric is still tight as a rubberband.

he is wanting 10,000 for the airplane, i personally think it is a bit high. what do you think?

my dad is on my butt to buy the airplane because he started learning to fly on a taylorcraft and it's bringing back alot of memories for him but i want to make sure that it can be fixed.
here are some pics i took with my camcroder.. http://www.helifreak.com/album_personal.php?user_id=65

[Dick Huish]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

Most of the L-2Ms were built in 1943. The last were done by late winter 44. If the airframe and wings are OK then the biggest problem that I can see from the pictures ia the cowling. The openings have been cut out to get rid of cracks. As for the value, an excellent L-2M will bring over 35,000. Great plane to fly, lot bigger than a Cub and has super visability. Good luck. Dick

[selje]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

Just a note that the L2-M can not be used under the Sports Pilot rules since the certified gross weight is 1325 lbs, just over the 1320 lbs limit.

[glyn thrash]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

thanks for the information!!!!!!!!

Where do i go to get parts? or the best place to get parts..

Selje - that sucks, i was thinking it was just under 1320 gross...

i am going to take an A&P with me the next time i go and look at it to get a close estimate on the problems.. and some better pics..

thanks again for the help!!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

Dick Huish and myself here at the Taylorcraft Foundation will have a lot of info , is that ser# L-5323 , it is hard to read off the replacement data plate shown on its side? My father may have been the test pilot. Price is correct if it is all there.

[glyn thrash]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

found this on Gross weight... i can't find anything else.... http://www.mcclellanaviationmuseum.org/L2M.html

[glyn thrash]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

forrest - yep, that's the one.....

[Dano"T"]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

Go to the ATC data sheet on L-2's from the home page of this site go to Technical Resources and pick the right one....sure enough L-2M is 1325lbs.

[glyn thrash]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

i wonder if they would pass on if it's just 5 lbs over???

[selje]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

When I asked both the EAA and FAA reps at Sun-N-Fun, they both said that there had be a cutoff somewhere and it was 1320 lbs. Also, you can not STC it to a lower gross weight since the SP regs say that the certified gross weight can not have ever exceeded the 1320 lbs.

[glyn thrash]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

well, 5lbs is a fine line, but then again, the line has to stop somewhere...

thanks everyone for the help. i am hopeing to go back up there tomorrow and take some better pics..

[crispy critter]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

I just looked the L-2M up on EAA's web site and it is the ONLY L-2 model that does not qualify for LSA because it has a listed gross of 1325.

well, 5lbs is a fine line, but then again, the line has to stop somewhere...

thanks everyone for the help. i am hopeing to go back up there tomorrow and take some better pics..

[Forrest Barber]

Re: 1943 L2M, buy help

During the meetings with the Small Aircraft Directorate we argued that till we were blue in the face. It was agreed to get it into palce then petition to have the weights raised. Hang in there , I am going to put up a thread on LSPA soon ...